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Keep the poem short. Many readers will skip over a two page poem because they don’t want to invest the effort or time. A sonnet (14 lines) is near the maximum length that stands a good chance of being read. Almost anyone will read a limerick (5 lines).
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Start with a strong opening line. The middle lines must tease the reader into continuing; a surprising punch line (or two) at the end provides the pay off. Make the reading worthwhile so you'll be added to that reader’s good poets list.
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Enjoy the freedom of not having to express yourself, as X.J. Kennedy has put it. Write about what you have in common with your reader–the part of the world that swirls around both of you.
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Take advantage of meter and rhyme, two of poetry’s most powerful tools. They lead you to a much better poem than you can find without their help.
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Think of writing a poem as an opportunity to solve a mysterious puzzle; one that slowly reveals its solution to you as you play with the words.
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Aim for your best. Look hard for ways to improve each poem. Even after a poem has been published, it is still subject to re-examination and modification.
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Keep the tools of the imagination (e.g., simplification, specification, substitution, rearrangement, recombination, association) close at hand as you develop your poem. Try each one, as though searching for the right size of wrench for the job.
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Guide your poetry toward good readers. A poem is only as good as the person reading it.
