How to Write a Love Poem
You're probably a poet and don't even know it. Even though writing a love poem is a great way to express your feelings for your spouse, you might be too intimidated to give it a try. With a little instruction, you'll be surprised at how easy it is. To boot, your spouse will be impressed and touched by the sentiment. With this step-by-step guide, just about anyone can write a beautiful love poem:
You don't have to be the poet laureate or even an expert on poetry to write a pretty poem. But having some knowledge of the writing form can help. Read famous love poems, such as those by Shakespeare, Dickinson, Tennyson, Shelley, and Keats. Seek inspiration in their words, but also pay attention to the structure. How does the poet break from one line to another? What is the rhythm like? What kinds of tools are being employed - metaphors, similes, descriptions? There is an art to capturing a human emotion and expressing it in so few words. Take note of this.
Get a pen and paper and begin to think about your beloved, the subject of your love poem. Remember when you first met, what your relationship is like now, what you hope for the future, and how he or she makes you feel. What is it that attracts you to your spouse? Why do you love him or her? Write all your thoughts down without stopping. If nothing else, you will determine a theme or metaphor around which you can base your poem. You might find a few gems amid your notes that will make it into your final edit.
There was a time when love poems could only be sonnets. But today they come in all shapes and sizes. There are couplets and haikus, epics and odes. You can choose whatever you prefer. Most poets suggest first timers go with free verse, which has no rules or constraints about line length and the like.
Don't hold back your feelings. Now is the time to confess how your spouse makes you feel, what attracts you to him or her, and how your union has changed your life for the better. Consult your notes and let loose with the emotion. Be genuine and just write down exactly what you feel in your heart.
People can tell you're an amateur poet if you lack polish. What does that mean? It means you employ cliches or use lots of adverbs, instead of descriptive language that creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. Another sign is using the thesaurus too much. There's no need to try and use sophisticated vocabulary. While you want to avoid being repetitive with your language, you don't have to use $100 words when you could use $.50 ones. You want to keep things simple and easy to understand.
One trick is acceptable and that is the use of a metaphor or a simple theme. If you can come up with a clever metaphor for your love or for how your beloved makes you feel, then that could become the focus of your poem.
Once you've written a rough draft, put your poem aside for a few hours or even a couple of days. Then, return to it with fresh eyes. Look for grammatical and spelling errors, but also consider substantive changes to perfect the poem. Reference little details from your relationship and memory bank. Make sure the poem expresses exactly how you feel.
If you really want to wow your spouse, then make an event of giving this gift. Do it over dinner or on date night. Type and print the poem on high-quality paper. Be sure to wrap it up in a pretty envelope with a bow or stamp on it. You might even frame it, so your spouse can treasure it forever.
1. Read love poems for inspiration.
You don't have to be the poet laureate or even an expert on poetry to write a pretty poem. But having some knowledge of the writing form can help. Read famous love poems, such as those by Shakespeare, Dickinson, Tennyson, Shelley, and Keats. Seek inspiration in their words, but also pay attention to the structure. How does the poet break from one line to another? What is the rhythm like? What kinds of tools are being employed - metaphors, similes, descriptions? There is an art to capturing a human emotion and expressing it in so few words. Take note of this.
2. Write free form.
Get a pen and paper and begin to think about your beloved, the subject of your love poem. Remember when you first met, what your relationship is like now, what you hope for the future, and how he or she makes you feel. What is it that attracts you to your spouse? Why do you love him or her? Write all your thoughts down without stopping. If nothing else, you will determine a theme or metaphor around which you can base your poem. You might find a few gems amid your notes that will make it into your final edit.
3. Choose a structure.
There was a time when love poems could only be sonnets. But today they come in all shapes and sizes. There are couplets and haikus, epics and odes. You can choose whatever you prefer. Most poets suggest first timers go with free verse, which has no rules or constraints about line length and the like.
4. Be honest and vulnerable.
Don't hold back your feelings. Now is the time to confess how your spouse makes you feel, what attracts you to him or her, and how your union has changed your life for the better. Consult your notes and let loose with the emotion. Be genuine and just write down exactly what you feel in your heart.
5. Put polish on your poetry.
People can tell you're an amateur poet if you lack polish. What does that mean? It means you employ cliches or use lots of adverbs, instead of descriptive language that creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. Another sign is using the thesaurus too much. There's no need to try and use sophisticated vocabulary. While you want to avoid being repetitive with your language, you don't have to use $100 words when you could use $.50 ones. You want to keep things simple and easy to understand.
6. Come up with a metaphor.
One trick is acceptable and that is the use of a metaphor or a simple theme. If you can come up with a clever metaphor for your love or for how your beloved makes you feel, then that could become the focus of your poem.
7. Edit, edit, edit.
Once you've written a rough draft, put your poem aside for a few hours or even a couple of days. Then, return to it with fresh eyes. Look for grammatical and spelling errors, but also consider substantive changes to perfect the poem. Reference little details from your relationship and memory bank. Make sure the poem expresses exactly how you feel.
8. Present your poem to your spouse.
If you really want to wow your spouse, then make an event of giving this gift. Do it over dinner or on date night. Type and print the poem on high-quality paper. Be sure to wrap it up in a pretty envelope with a bow or stamp on it. You might even frame it, so your spouse can treasure it forever.