What Makes A Good Poem?
Powerful poetry speaks to us. But what makes poetry powerful in the first place?
Almost anyone can name a “famous” poem.
Maybe “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, or “The Wasteland” by T.S. Eliot. Shakespeare wrote incredible sonnets, and Edgar Allen Poe wrote about ravens.
But when we look closer, how many people can describe what actually makes a poem good? Is it just the number of metaphors that you squeeze in? Or how neat your rhymes are? Is it the poem’s ability to make you laugh—or cry?
All of these things are included in the art of poetry, and more. Here at AllPoets, we separate poetic skills into three categories: sound, form, and imagery. Poems that truly excel have a grasp on all three of these things.
Sound refers to the collection of noises that make up the words that make up the poem. It includes literary devices such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, and rhyming. But more than that, the sound of a poem can create a specific tone. For example, consider the difference between the terms “stone” and “rock.” They may mean the same thing, but their sound is quite different — ”stone” uses soft, gentle sounds like “s” and “n,” creating a sense of smoothness and openness. “Rock” sounds rougher with harsh, gutteral “r” and “k” consonants. When asked to describe the difference between a “stone” and a “rock,” most kids will suggest that a stone is small and smooth, while a rock is large and jagged. You won’t find this definition in the Oxford Dictionary — rather, it’s a connotation that comes with the sound of the words.
Form refers to the overall shape of the poem. This includes the aspects of writing that we normally associate with poetry rather than other genres: lines and stanzas, rhyme and rhythm, and more specific forms like haiku and sonnets. Poetic form is more flexible than most people imagine — for example, not all good poems rhyme. Some, often called “prose poems,” don’t even use lines and stanzas. But poetry is distinct from other forms of writing in its attention to form. No matter what a poem looks like, a good poet thinks intentionally about her form choices, rather than simply throwing words together on a page.
It’s important to choose a form that fits your subject and tone well. A Shakespearean sonnet has a very different tone from a prose poem. And some aspects of form — especially rhythm — should play a part no matter what type of poem you may be writing.
Imagery is the most commonly listed aspect of a good poem, although it may actually be the least integral element to the practice of poetry. Many poems—especially from before the 1800s—make their point with minimal imagery, focusing instead on the sound of the words and form of the poem as a whole. We’d suggest that our poets do the same. A single metaphor or small sprinkling of description can go a long way!
For a poem to truly be great, imagery should certainly be involved, whether that is through simile, metaphor, or vivid appeal to the five senses. Imagery portrays ideas in a way that can be understood and memorized, which is the goal of many poets as well! This means that poetry and imagery go hand in hand.
Of course, there is much more to sound, form, and imagery than what is listed here. Over the next few months, AllPoets will be publishing features about these three pillars of poetry, so keep an eye out! And if you have your own thoughts on what makes a powerful poem, we’d love to hear them! Send us your ideas any time.
