An imagery poem uses sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch to create an image in the reader's head.An imagery poem evokes a feeling about the image.A good imagery poem has concrete details that bring the image to life.You can draw on other writing techniques, such as metaphor and simile, to further develop your poem depending on your subject matter.
Step 1: Pick a subject for your poem.
It can be difficult to find a subject that you want to write about.Something small and specific is usually easier to work with than a grand poetic theme.Don't text or use headphones when you go out in public.If you want to observe the world around you, get a notebook and a pen.Jot things that interest you or make you feel something.You're more likely to be able to communicate a strong emotion through a poem if you see something that evokes it.
Step 2: List words for all 5 senses.
An imagery poem uses sensory description to evoke a feeling in the reader's mind.Don't associate the word "image" with visual images alone.Images can be evoked by sounds, smells, and tastes.It's a good idea to look at all 5 senses and see what you can come up with.It's possible that something you thought wouldn't make a difference turns out to be more compelling.If you write about a child who falls face first onto the ground, you could evoke that image with the taste of a mouthful of dirt and grass.Don't be afraid to mix your words with the senses.Some people can see sounds or taste words with synesthesia.Even if you don't have the condition, you can still use your senses.
Step 3: The description should be tied to action.
There are many words that describe things.Adding depth to your image can be achieved by different nouns and verbs.Even though all of these words have the same meaning, hold and grasp have different meanings.If you're not sure about the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.A word that doesn't match the others can distract the reader from the poem.
Step 4: Don't be literal.
It's important that you don't tell your reader exactly what you're describing with an imagery poem.Show them the sensory details.Suppose you are writing a poem about walking to the grocery store."I walked to the grocery store."For an imagery poem, instead of telling your reader what happened, you would show them everything absorbed by the senses on the walk to the store.The reader takes the same walk.
Step 5: You can read other poetry.
Sensory descriptions that aren't cliched and commonplace are the key to a good imagery poem.Readers don't connect to something they've already read in the same way that they do new things.If you don't read the work of other poets, you will not know what's already been used.This doesn't mean that you need to read all the great poems or the classics.You will be writing poetry about topics that interest you.Take notes while you read.Think about what works and what does not.Break down the poem to find out how the poet was able to create a strong image.
Step 6: A free write about your subject is what you should start with.
Let the words flow when you sit down with a blank page.To keep your writing orderly, try to keep it as automatic as possible, without thinking about it or even looking at the page.It's a good idea to start writing without thinking about the structure or form of the poem.The form that works best for the poem will reveal itself to you if you just write.
Step 7: Attach the structure to the poem.
Instead of setting up a structure first and trying to force your words into that form, look over your free write and try any form your writing suggests.When you're first starting, free verse will be the easiest structure to use because you don't have to worry about rhyme and meter.Focus on meaning over form.Rhyming can be difficult if the words don't fit the scheme.If you can't find a form that works, abandon it and find something else that will work better.If you're grouping your lines together in a way that relates to the meaning of your poem, make sure there's a reason for it.You don't want to choose a particular spacing solely because of how your lines look on the page
Step 8: Specific and concrete words can be used.
By making your words specific, you can draw readers into your poem and create the image you want them to create in their minds.Your reader will define generic words with reference to their own experiences and understanding rather than the image you're trying to communicate.A word like "pain" has no meaning other than what the reader brings to it.A mother of 3 may have a different idea of pain than a teenaged boy, and a boy who had a near-fatal car accident may not have the same idea.These words can be used in your initial drafts.If you want to write a good imagery poem, replace them with vivid sensory descriptions of the pain felt.
Step 9: Asking questions will draw out meaning.
Every word is important to the ultimate image you are trying to convey.Go through your draft and ask yourself why each detail is necessary.If the reason for a particular detail isn't clear, you can either add more or throw it out and see how the poem works without it.If you have written a turn of phrase that you've fallen in love with, but it doesn't add anything to the meaning of the poem as a whole, you are better off without it.It can be used in a different poem.
Step 10: The right words and phrases evoke the right moods.
An imagery poem is not about taking a photograph.You want the sensory descriptions you use to be ones that make the reader feel what you want them to feel.Hard sounds, such as brick or shut, can evoke a cold sensation in the reader.Soft words such as rolling or whisper calm and warm the reader.It is possible to evoke a mood through the repetition of hard and soft vowels.Repetition helps create rhythm in your poem.
Step 11: Take a break from writing.
After you've written a solid draft of your poem, it's a good idea to sit it for a few days before starting the editing and revision process.If you don't have a cool, objective eye to look at your poem, editing will be a waste of time.It's possible that you don't have time to take a break from your poem for any reason, such as a class deadline or an event.There are things you can do to create some distance, such as going for a walk or doing another activity.To see a poem with fresh eyes, simply write it again.Write your draft on a computer.If you've already typed it, open a new document and type it all over again.
Step 12: Correct glaring errors.
You may notice an error when you come back to edit your poem.It's important to have fresh eyes when editing and revising your poem.If you read your poem backwards, you can identify mistakes that you might not have noticed.Keep your editing separate from your revision.You can focus on the meat of your poem if you get it out of the way first.
Step 13: You should read your poem loud.
You can easily identify parts of your poem that aren't working by reading it aloud.It gives you a sense of the internal rhythm of your poem, as well as parts that may not flow as they should.Pay attention to where you pause as you read, and make sure the line breaks reflect your reading.Another way to check line breaks is to exaggerate the length of the pause you make.The pauses are put in focus so that you can identify awkward line breaks.
Step 14: Cut unneeded words and phrases.
A good poem gets its message across in a few words.Start with "a" and "the."In poetry,junctions aren't often needed.Think about how you can use an active description.The problem may be taken care of by a specific word.You could use "clutched" instead of "held tightly."Depending on the person reading the poem, look for any word that has more than one meaning.Make these words concrete by working on making them specific.You could use "ripe cherries" instead of "red", which could be a number of different shades.
Step 15: As necessary, adjust the structure.
You may find that the structure you once liked is no longer working as you revise your poem.Everything else can be affected by the smallest change you make to a poem.When you're revising, look at the poem as a whole.Make sure the structure continues to serve the meaning of the poem.It's possible that the structure you originally chose doesn't fit anymore, if you find you're trying to force words into place.You may want to play around with different forms or ways of structuring your poem to see the difference during the revision stage.You can find that moving the lines and spacing around gives a new depth to the poem.
Step 16: Line breaks are a good way to experiment.
The length of your lines and where they are broken can help set the mood of the poem.The way your poem looks on the page plays a role as well.You can try a number of different options if you want to write in free verse.You could do a revision in which you keep all the lines of the poem the same length.You might do another with different lines.A poem's look can affect the mood or detract from it.If the lines are all over the page and there isn't any reasoning behind the spacing, readers may have difficulty.
Step 17: You can get other people to read your poem.
If you're not too shy about your writing, other people can give you constructive feedback that can help your poem be the best it can possibly be.The people you share your poem with don't have to be poetry experts, but they should be honest.Most people don't have any training in constructive criticism.It doesn't help you improve your poetry if you know someone likes your poem.You can get feedback from asking questions about what worked and what didn't.It is possible to ask someone else to read your poem.Look at the places where they read it differently than you did.If you enjoy reading, you should figure out a way to make what's on the page better reflect how you read it.You may need to break a line differently or use a semi-colon to indicate a longer pause.