Gj's Poetry Guide: How to make a poem flow.

[Cicero]

The Poetry Guide:

How to make a poem flow


Poetry, o Poetry,
what ever will I do?
For even in a monastry,
I can't stop thinking of you

To write, and write,
word for word
To be in flight,
with this pencil and hurt

The paper with my stripes,
The pen with my pressure,
My mind with my thinking,
Your heart with my poetry.

Haha, that poem was actually quite fun! It is, I think, the second poem I write in english, so forgive me if it is simple. I just thought a good Poetry Guide, should begin with a poem.

Well, I made this thread because I see a lot of poetry threads recently. This fills my heart with joy, as I myself love to write poetry. So I thought of making something like this. To help improve those who are already busy with poetry, and to encourage other young minds to try and write poetry themselfs.

There might be other guides later on, with other problems or essential things about poetry, but right now I would like to start off with the flow of a poem. This is the key essential, and really the most important thing with a poem. Without a good flow, it isn't even a real poem, more like a bundle of sentences which somehow have something to do with eachother. This essential is also the formost problem I've seen so far around here.

Now before I begin describing my way of making and keeping a good flow, I must say a poem doesn't have to rhyme. A whole lot of poems don't, but it is the easiest and most effective way to make a good flow, especially for beginners. Thus, in this first post I will concentrate on poems that rhyme.

So, let's begin! =D

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The AAAA principle:


There are, when writing poetry or rhymes, a few standards which can help you make and keep a good flow. The first and most simple one is the AAAA principle. Like this:

I was walking,
I was talking,
I was stalking,
I was sulking.

To explain why I am using AAAA, and AABB, and ABAB, I will post the form with the letters here, although I'm not going to pay much attention to this principle. The concept will pretty much get clear later on. Anyway, here it is:

I was walking, [A]
I was talking, [A]
I was stalking, [A]
I was sulking. [A]

Now this really is the easiest there is, so I won't expect any problem with this principle. I don't recommend using this one actually, or maybe only for one paragraph in a larger poem, but I get to mixing the principles later on.


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The AABB principle:

Next up is the AABB principle, the second most easy. We've all seen it before:

I was walking,
And talking.
In the street,
made of meat. (Lol.)

As you can see here, the first two sentences and the last two sentences rhyme. This is the first step to actually make a nice flow, in an understandable poem. Here is the form with letters:

I was walking, [A]
And talking. [A]
In the street, [b]
made of meat. [b]

I think this is clear so far. (The letter form will be explained with the next principle.)

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The ABAB principle:

As the two previous ones, this poem is one of the basics. It is the third most simple principle. It goes like this:

I was walking,
through the street.
While I was talking,
to my feet.

Now, you might have been wondering why I am calling the principles like: AAAA, AABB, ABAB, etc.. Well, here is your answer =D:

As you can see, the first and the third sentence rhyme, as do the second and fourth. This is the ABAB principle, as I will show now:

I was walking, [A]
through the street. [b]
While I was talking, [A]
to my feet. [b]

The first sentence is an A, and thus the third must rhyme to that, because the third one is also A. Same goes for the second and fourth sentence: the B's. So the structre of this poem is first an A, then a B, again an A, and again a B. The sentences with the same letters must rhyme to eachother. This is the idea of these standard principles. Clear now? xD

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The ABCB principle:

Another easy principle is the ABCB principle. Let me show you.

I was walking,
through the street.
With my hope,
beneath my feet.

As you see the first and third sentence don't rhyme, but there is still a good flow. I use this one pretty often, as it is still easy to understand and read for others, but gives just a bit more...spice to it, so to say. Here's the form with the letters behind it, to make it clear:

I was walking, [A]
through the street. [b]
With my hope, [C]
beneath my feet. [b]

Clear? Let's move on.

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The ABAC principle:

One that looks similar to the previous one, is the ABAC principle. This one is actually a more advanced one, as I will show.

I was walking,
through the street.
While their talking,
caught my ear.

Now, what you notice when you read this one, is that the flow is a bit off in the end. This is because this one is more advanced, and requires at least two paragraphs.

I was walking,
through the street.
While their talking,
caught my ear.

And as I stopped,
to see what's up.
My bag dropped,
as it drew me near.

See how the flow returns, if you use the C in the second paragraph?

I think you know how the letter forms work by now, but for the last time I will post it for this one:

I was walking, [A]
through the street. [b]
While their talking, [A]
caught my ear. [C]

And as I stopped, [A]
to see what's up. [b]
My bag dropped, [A]
as it drew me near. [C]

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Principle mixing:

Now I think I've posted the most important principles you should now. There may be some others, but I simply can't come up with them at the moment xD. Might add them later if I remember one. But for now I will tell you about principle mixing, which I highly encourage. This is a real advanced way of writing a poem, but it is also one of the best ones. It keeps things as diversity, originality, and mystery in the poem, making it catching to read. For example I have a poem which begins with a paragraph of ABCD, then a paragraph with ABA, and the ABAB, but still the flow is there.

As that poem is in Dutch, I will form one here to show you what I mean:

One day,
One play,
One grey,
Grey sky.

I lost the match,
of love, of hope.
But what's the catch?
This golden rope.

I'm tied to this life,
which lost its meaning.
Its core, my strife,
My heart is crying.

But I won't sigh,
in this world I hate.
And I will lie,
because my heart is dying.

And there's my third poem in english. xD

I actually used a new principle, AAAB, in the first paragraph. But the point is; do you see the way the flow keeps altough I use different principles? First AAAB, then ABAB, and then twice ABAC. This poem is more intruiging then a poem with only one principle can ever be. (Yes, I am a bit arrogant, but please see the point I'm trying to make here. xD)

So that's it for principle mixing. I can give more examples if it isn't clear yet, but I think it is.

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Conclusion: The wish for experiment. (xD)

Well, that's about it, boys and girls! I hope I was clear with what I'm trying to explain, as I sometimes have the habit of explaining things in a really confusing way. (And I hope I didn't use the word 'clear' too much. xD)

And, yeah, I know it is a bit short, but as said, these are just the standards.

Now, as for the title of this part. The best thing to do when writing poems is experiment. Experiment with different principles, or even without them. I have some poems which follow principles in the beginning, but then at the end totally lose there way. The key is to feel the flow. Feel the poem you want to write, and always criticise yourself. If you really know the flow you try to create, and feel what you are doing, you can go without any principles at all, and then you have a masterpiece. Such poems are loved by everyone, even if they don't like the subject, they will be caught in the mystery. I have one poem that really is about nothing at all, but I like it the most of everything I ever wrote, because I went all out on that one.

Also, for beginners, I recommend you make a poem with every basic principle first, just to feel how they are, and then try to start mixing. It doesn't matter if you don't like the first one you create with mixing, or that it didn't turn out as you wanted, because always remember, practice makes perfect!

I'll give you all one last example of this, if I try to manage it, before I end my post. I hope you enjoyed reading this guide, and that it may help you write amazing poems. <3 If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, and if you have something to add that will make this clearer, I'll be glad to listen to you.

Thanks for reading this! <3

These sounds in the air,
have only importance to me.
Peacefully you stroke my hair,
and let me be.

These are the notes you play,
for me, and me alone.
These are the feelings which you may,
share only with me, and me alone.

This is your song for me,
which will carve your soul forever in mine.
This is you, me, us, togheter,
now I can peacefully cross the line.

Goodbye, my love,

Till the next life.

[Cicero]

¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!¡NEW!

New on 'Gj's Poetry Guide: How to make a poem flow.': Techniques

So here is the second part of Gj's poetry guide! In this part I will ellaborate on a couple of techniques you can use to form a good flow. The principles I displayed in the first part are indeed a good basis for a poem, and create a nice basic flow, but that is about it.

For an awesome flow you need techniques. Now I have to warn you, techniques are more advanced ways of creating a flow than the principles, and can even work without rhyme. I highly reccomend using techniques to improve your poems, but not before you've mastered the principles. Those principles are the basis, which you do not always need, but really need to know before advancing.

In the name of a certain artist: 'How, in the name of peace, can you find the end, if the beginning is lost?'

Well, here we go!

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The 1st technique: Chaining [Normally know as a refrain]

This is a good technique for making a flow, which I call 'Chaining'. Its like making a necklace with beads of diffirent colors, but keep on clinging to one ruling color.

This technique relies on key words. Words (or sentences) that keep returning in later parts of the pome: Linking and keeping everything togheter. Let me just show you what I mean by throwing in a poem I made this weekend.

The world ends with you

I walked through the streets
of a city tainted
a city corrupted
and a world full of love

I crossed through the water
of a sea so clear
a sea so lovely
and a world full of love

I travelled through the green
of a forest so quiet
a forest so lively
and a world full of love

To arive at the saddness
of a graveyard with stones
a stone with your name
and a world without love...

For the world ended with you

Now as you can see, I don't really have much rhyme in the poem, just a half principle now and then. What I do have in the poem is the sentence 'a world full of love' which keeps on returning throughout the poem, making it flow. I also let the second and third sentences of the paragraphs repeat the first two words, like in the first paragraph I used 'a city' twice.

Even in the last paragraph I used the word 'stones' in the second sentence, and then repeated it in the third sentence. Small things like this are the key to create a chain. Now I realise that at first this seems a bit vague, but try it out and you will see that it works.

Well, this is the main idead of what I call 'Word Chaining', and is one of the most important techniques. It can create flow even in a poem without rhyme.

Now what I also have to say is that the sentence which is returning doesn't necesarily have to be the same all the time. It can change, as I did in the end of my poem. As long as it has the same sound to it, it will create a flow.

Also, another thing that you can do is use one letter and let that one keep coming back, this is what I call 'Letter Chaining'. I'll just show you what I mean again by throwing in a poem.

Love on your side

Strange strings of light
figures of God
Weird forms of life
shadows are shot

Strings through the darkness
red, blue, green, white
Forms for your sadness
ridding you of spite

Rainbows of hapiness
protecting you from tears
Bright clouds of loveliness
keeping you from fears

So, please...be happy with this light

And know, that love is by your side

Now what I did here was use the A of the first paragraph in the whole poem. I'll show you:

Love on your side

Strange strings of light [A]
figures of God [b]
Weird forms of life [A]
shadows are shot [b]

Strings through the darkness [A]
red, blue, green, white [b] [A of the first]
Forms for your sadness [A]
ridding you of spite [b] [A of the first]

Rainbows of hapiness [A]
protecting you from tears [b]
Bright clouds of loveliness [A]
keeping you from fears [b]

So, please...be happy with this light [A of the first]

And know, that love is by your side [A of the first]

All paragraphs use the ABAB principle, but instead of using new ones, I used the A from the first paragraph for the B of the second. This gives the paragraphs the same sound to them and thus creates flow.

Next I let the A out in the third paragraph to create some space, but I let it return again in the last two sentences. What I did chained everything togheter and created a flow.

Hope you understand it! xD Once again, I can become a bit confusing at times.

Oh, and about what I said about creating some space. This is not necesary for the flow. It can even trow it off in a lot of cases, but if you know how to place it wel it can keep a poem refreshing and keeps it from becoming...stagnant. But this does not belong here, I might create a whole different guide on how to use this properly, or maybe add it as a technique... Ah, well.

Well, that's about all for chaining. Hope you learned something from it and till the next update! =D

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Side notes:

I will be editing this guide regurarly with new techniques and/or tips, so check in often!

Also, if you make a poem with the help of this guide, or just want some C&C to improve: Post it! I would love to see some outcomes of poems, and I'm always willing to help you out when you got stuck. ^^

[Lectori Salutem]

You're Dutch? Me too, can I read your Dutch poem? You got me curious.

And it's a good guide. It's very understandable (you can use that intead of 'clear' next time ^^ ). Are you going to write about thing like alliteration and assonance too? I can never get those right in a poem...

[Cicero]

Haha, that's why you have a text of racoon in your name, I was wondering about that.

About the guide, I'm going to edit it a bit soon though, I noticed I spent more time on the principles then on actually creating a flow, there is something else needed for that to.

But what are alliteration and assonance in dutch? xD I've no idea what you mean by that... :3

Edit: Hehe, sorry, about the poem, can I e-mail it, or shall I send a pm? And do you only want the ones which I mentioned? For I've got dozens. xD (Actually busy with two bundles, which I plan on publishing ^^)

[Lectori Salutem]

Alliteration is 'alliteratie (=beginrijm)' and assonance is 'assonantie (=klankrijm)'
I had no idea what the english words were, but it's actually kind of logical^^ I had a project about poetry for Dutch and I know how it should work, but I can't do it right in my poems (not that I write a lot of them, but still...).

You can PM or email them, just do what's easiest for you. Just send me some nice ones^^
(Two bundles? That's a lot!!! You must be good!)

[Cicero]

Hmm, I myself don't think I'm that good, I just began writing poems like a year ago, but my father had some connections at a local bookshop so I went there to have it reviewed. He seemed to like it and advised my to try and publish them...I don't know yet though.

Anyway, I'll send it to you by mail if its ok, easier to upload. Could you pm me your adress? ^^

[Cicero]

¡Update!

New on Gj's Poetry Guide: Techniques!

=D

[Deeman]

Your guide is useful for people seeking help in poetry; however, I just have a few suggestions/points/tips.

You have not covered the specifics in poetry, such as meter or the feet (iambic, trochaic), as well rhyming types (feminine, masculine rhyme).

You seem to center your guide for fabricating poetry by labeling the rhyme sequences (abba, etc.), which is not bad, but is not necessarily the fundamental principle of poetry. If you plan to cover such aspects of poetry in the future (the ones I mentioned in my first paragraph), then do excuse me, but I would have expected such material to be presented in your guide at the beginning, as a basis.

Also, when you refer to that technique of poetry, "chaining", that is not it's actual name. I know you said that you call it chaining, but typically it's more effective to use it's actual term. In this case, such a technique is known as a refrain.
Also, poetry that does not rhyme is known as free verse, which indeed can be considered a whole different field of poetry.

I am not degrading your work at all; I think that this can be a helpful aid for some. Just be careful to add those fundamental principles of poetry, such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, euphony, and so on; don't base this guide on only what you know.

Last line of the first stanza from the top post should be 'of' not 'about'.

Kind of made me not want to read the rest of it. =/

[Cicero]

And I'm not seeing this as degrading at all, Deeman. Thanks for the tips, I think I also asked for tips in the first post, so I glad you did give me some.

I know I haven't covered every expect of poetry, not in a long shot. I know it is still incomplete, I posted this principle system to start out with and work from there on.

Before I really had no idea whatsoever of what the structure of a poem is. I always worked with feeling, and created my poems just by touch, so to say. Now this guide actually started out as a way for myself to try and write down the structure of a poem. I still have a long way to go, as I really don't know what you mean with pretty much everything you said...iambic, trochaic, alliteration, consonance, well, everything.

I just was so excited when I completed the principle system, I wanted to post it up. Half because I was a bit proud, and half really to help people. The technique in the second part really is the first thing I wrote down about structure that flowed from the principle system. I made that system first, and now that I notice the gaps and emptiness in that system, I can try to fill it up.

I've seen some other gaps, and am trying to fill those in, and in that way slowly build this guide. Step by step, I will ellaborate on more aspects of poetry. And it will probably all be with my own made-up names. xD

So please, help me out anytime when you think I said something wrong, or if something originally has another name. You seem to know a lot, so I think I can learn a lot from you. =)

Again, thanks for the tips!

EDIT: @Dawning Kensei: ...que? Do realise, that was the second poem I ever wrote in english. It was just for fun to give a nice opening to it.

EDIT 2: I edited the post a little bit to fit it more to what you said Deeman, and I changed the first poem, DK...

I won't be rewriting the whole thing at this moment though, I have some other ideas and when I figure those out, I will rewrite it all agian with notice of your tips. =)