The Myths in Writing a Poem

Poetry is one of the most overrated genres when readers seek for aesthetics, but it is also the most underrated genre when it comes to technicalities and structure. Most people view poetry as a field where beauty and aesthetic is found; however, there is a more deeper perspective when it comes to this genre all you have to do is to look closer.

If you are a bibliophile, you can observe that poetry books are more expensive than stand along novels. Haven’t you questioned why is it that way when in fact poetry books — like Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, Memories by Lang Leav, and The Color of Love by Raymond Quattlebaum, cannot even fill a page with words while novels, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland, and One Caregiver’s Journey by Eleanor Gaccetta, contain a thousand words?

But the beauty of a literary work and its value isn’t found on its word count and length, it is more on its meaning and how it impacts people. Hence, it is one of the misconceptions about poetry. If you want to learn more about the subject, provided below are the myths of writing poems that you should know.

It is as easy as counting 1, 2, 3

The common myth is that writing a piece of poetry is easy peasy. Everyone can do it as long as they know how to write. But, it turns out that not everyone is gifted with words and talent in writing such piece. You see, poetry is one of the hardest literary works to craft. There are many elements to work on, several rules to follow, and a wide array of literary device to incorporate, making the task too challenging. You also need to build a persona, create a voice, and flash images. It is truly a whole lot of work for a work that is only made up of the smallest number of words possible. So, you really need to put your heart and mind in writing, as well as give the best attention to the details, in order to create an impactful piece.

Rhyme should always be there

Most poems, especially the old ones, are rhymed. The rhyme scheme is also being taught in school; hence, it is the basic rule that people follow when it comes to poetry writing. But, have you ever seen a work that doesn’t have a rhyme scheme but is still considered as a poem? The truth is that poems don’t necessarily need to rhyme. Although you have the choice whether to apply the rhyme scheme or not, the most important thing is that you have conveyed the experience, emotions, and theme to the literary work. Rhymes add to the aesthetic part of the piece, but you need not to incorporate it in every poem you write. You can always choose the free verse, write a wonderful one, and be the next Ezra Pound.

Grammar must be impeccable

It has been a common knowledge that in order to become the best writer, you must have a perfect grammar. However, this doesn’t fully apply in poetry. You see, poetry is all about expressing one’s pain, happiness, and all things in between through the fewest number of words. When it comes to grammar, it doesn’t really follow the standard rules — such as subject verb agreement and more. It is not necessary to have the perfect grammar, but what is essential is the way you build the imagery and how these images flash to the imagination of the readers. Also, perfecting the grammar will be a struggle especially if your work is metered.

The poet equals the persona

The persona refers to the one who is telling the poem. The common misconception is that most readers think that the poet is also the persona. However, it doesn’t always go that way because the writer has the ability to write about the experiences of others. Perhaps the poet wants someone else’s story to be told, so he took inspiration on his experiences. You can assess it when you try to check the poet’s background and find nothing similar to the imagery, words, and theme conveyed in his work.