The difference between simply writing something descriptive and writing poetry often comes down to the use of literary devices. Device means a technique of description that is more akin to music and comparative in a more abstract way.
An easy way to write a metaphor is to first compare two things and state one is actually the other: my body is a temple, a heart of stone, and the world is a stage. These are common and obvious. When writing poetry (especially when using rhyme), basic metaphors may seem like your only choice, but if you start looking for descriptions in your everyday life, it may become easier to come up with your own creative metaphors.
When writing about texture, I often compare the fur or skin of an animal to the first thing that comes to mind. Her fur was silk under my fingers, which is an obvious one to me, but her fur, whipped cream under my fingers, is not what most would think when touching the fur of a pet. After looking at the rippling white fur, I don’t just use feel but also the visual of curly fur that reminds me of beaten fresh cream.
This brings to the reader more than the sensory experience of touch; it is also a visual of the whipped cream and possibly pleasant memories of the taste and feel in their mouth. While fur in the mouth is not pleasant, the description now gives an almost complete sensory experience.
Has someone hurt you? Made you cry or criticized you? How does your face feel? How do the tears feel running down your face?
Instead of “I cried,” try, “my cheeks flamed, embers cooled by my tears rainfall.”
Avoid using the words like or as for a metaphor. That makes it a simile. Personally, until I tried to improve my poetry, I didn’t care about things like metaphors and similes.
Poetry is so freeing, but I found comparison verses difficult at first.
For example, a poem like this:
He ran through the forest
Grass damp against his shins
Stubbing his toes along the way
Dirt caught on his heels
He turned back and went towards home
His brown footprints across the carpet
He frowned, knowing she would be upset
Smiled, yet tears came to his eyes
There is something here of the author trying to instill a feeling of possibly freedom, or escape. The feel of grass, the forest, fresh dirt on his feet. Being sad about heading home, knowing he would get a scolding yet still trailing dirt through the house. Happy about being rebellious but still crying.
Taking the emotions and situations from the words can help to create a metaphor. Don’t be afraid to write something because you’ll think it will be bad, because you can always go back over it. Let’s make some metaphors! I’ll also be making some changes to take definitive pronouns out when possible and changing the first words to action words when I can.
Through the forest, tall grasses
tears against shins.
Toes of stone stubbed cold
Sole skin scrubbed deep umber
Turn dragging feet heading home
Loamy footprints on the carpet
Riven jagged frown deep brown
Knowing she would hate the dirt
Tears pooled on the cupid’s bow
Of his smile.
See if you can find these different devices in the poem above:
1. Imagery: ______________
2. Personification: _________
3. Metaphor: _____________
4. Alliteration: ____________
5. Symbolism: ____________
6. Contrast: ______________
Answers:
1. Imagery: "tall grass," "tears against shins," and "loamy footprints on the carpet" paint clear pictures in the reader's mind, evoking sensory experiences.
2. Personification: The line "tears pooled on the cupid's bow of his smile" gives human-like qualities to tears, suggesting they are capable of pooling, which creates a poignant image of sadness juxtaposed with a smile.
3. Metaphor: Phrases such as "toes of stone" and "sole skin scrubbed deep umber" utilize metaphorical language. "Toes of stone" suggests a feeling of heaviness or immobility, while "deep umber" likely refers to a rich, earthy color that evokes a sense of grounding or connection to nature.
4. Alliteration: There are instances of alliteration, such as in "dragging feet," where the repetition of the initial consonant sound adds a rhythmic quality to the text.
5. Symbolism: The "loamy footprints" could symbolize the remnants of one’s journey or experiences, while the "dirt" may symbolize imperfection or the things that the subject wishes to avoid.
6. Contrast: The juxtaposition of "tears" and "smile" creates an emotional contrast, highlighting a complex emotional state.
Why do you love poetry? Reading it or writing it or both?
Airie McCready, the author of the upcoming poetry book "Caught in a Cat Romance,” is coming this fall.