How to write good love poetry
Writing love poetry can be very easy if writing love poetry comes easily to you. Is poetry writing a gift? Quite possibly, but it doesn't necessarily have to be only that way if you care enough to write a poem that is both meaningful and personal.
You're here because you already care enough to write a love poem for your loved one. That fact alone gives you all the tools you need in order to be able to succeed at this, which is fantastic. Well done already! The love that you have for your significant other is already proven by visiting this site in the first place, and means that you're already looking for a way to express yourself in one of the most romantic and long-lasting ways possible: a poem. The further fact that you're not looking to simply rip off someone else's feelings about love and deflect that in your own partner is important, and we'll use that passion to help create your poem.
There are hundreds of books out there filled with love poetry and romantic verses, and to re-use that material is entirely valid since the people who write those pieces are professionals, and it would therefore be imprudent to ignore it. These poems, such as Emily Dickinson's 'I should not dare' (see below) are beautiful and haunting (haunting in the sense that they set up home within your heart, and occasionally jump on the furniture).
Because if he should die
While I was gone and I -too late,
Should reach the heart that wanted me,
If you should choose instead to look up books about poetry and find the perfect love poem for you (and for your loved one) then I commend that action. However, as beautiful as that love poetry might be, we should also look to design our own poetry from our personal feelings, especially since our own experiences of love are a great framework on which to set the poem. Here are 10 steps that should show you how to write beautiful love poetry.
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Get a piece of paper and a pen.
It's tempting to use a computer, but unless you're an expert typist then your brain will move faster than your ability to type what you're thinking. We can move onto a computer later to do the actual writing, but for now you need paper and pen.
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Close your eyes and remember what it feels like to be around them.
If you can't remember, or perhaps you've been with this person a long time and some of the sparkle has gone, try to remember how it used to feel when you first got together. It's really important that you get to the basest feelings and try to hold those thoughts for as long as possible, because the next step is to identify what those feelings really are.
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Sit down with your paper and pen, and write down words.
For now you need to avoid the temptation to begin writing your poem, but focus instead on specifically setting out words that describe those thoughts you now have pictured in your head. Take your time, but probably no longer than five minutes (anything after that will likely be a mess of synonyms).
With most things in life, it's the time you take up-front that helps make the eventual effort successful. The remembered feelings, the images, the colours and all the other senses that have been awakened in this process are the scenery of your poem, but these words are the fuel.
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Using the words you have written down, go back to your memory.
By imagining those words you will invoke any memory associated with them, and not just about your loved one. Let those thoughts flow and you'll realise that your head is now full of amazing images that you can use in your poem. These help you write metaphors in your poetry, and because of the strong association with your genuine feelings of love the metaphors won't feel stressed and will feel real.
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Now it's time to start writing, while your head is full.
Even if you don't know much about poetry writing, now is the time to start jotting, following the rest of these guides. Keep these thoughts in your head throughout - perhaps tease one or two of those that are most prominent into the poem first. You can use a computer (and it's probably better to, since it's easier to correct yourself on a computer) to create your poem at this stage.
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Write in short snappy ideas, and try to stick to classic forms.
Lots of poetry comes in simple formats, and love poetry is no exception. The words themselves should be relatively short and probably no longer than four syllables in order to aid your rhyming. Consider the use of strong words: words that have strong stresses and noises that pop when you read them. Remember, these are guidelines and not rules - if they don't suit you, don't use them!
Until you feel comfortable breaking this rule, try to write in four line stanzas (paragraph) using a rocking type noise with the syllables in each line. Sentences are absolutely fine to use, and you can use commas are a great way of stating the same thing twice. It's a simple trick, but it's not fake - it's just a way of reinforcing your thoughts.
Each stanza should say one thing in particular, even if it's heavily repetitive. However, each stanza should say something different.
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The rhyme may take time.
Leave the rhyme out until you're comfortable with what your poem is saying. It's just not important - your loved one won't read your poem thinking about whether it rhymes, but rather that it says something that means something to them. Your poem should come out very quickly, and probably in less than five minutes. If it takes longer, that's fine, but the point is to not obsess about the poem until your thoughts are written down.
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Use a rhythm that feels comfortable.
All poetry, whether rhyming or not, has a particular beat to it - a rhythm that your mind loves and adds the pretty bow to your poem. If your poem hasn't naturally come out with a rhythm, then don't try to shoehorn one in. It may be that this poem is not the right one, and you should always feel free to write another one.
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Feel completely free to start again.
Don't ever throw away an old poem, but do start again if you feel unhappy with your results. The whole process of writing, which should start in step 4, ought to take no longer than around 5 minutes. Since you have spent such a short amount of time actually writing, and the majority of your time has instead been spent thinking and caring, then why feel precious about your first effort?
However, also keep your old poem, or past attempts, because the thoughts you put into them will likely be very clear, and this is something you can continue to use.
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Present your poem with grace and bashfulness.
As proud as you may be of your work, it should be something that is presented without a thought for praise. This might be difficult because we're always looking for praise from our efforts, but this is not one of those times.
By following these simple steps, you should have a poem that is both personal and witty, and given to your loved one with only a thought of pleasing them. Good luck!