Man has used poetry to express love for thousands of years. Whether you are in love, lovesick, or want to show a family member how much you love them, a love poem is a touching and creative way to do that.
Still, there is something particularly daunting about writing a poem about love. Having a loved one as your audience puts a different kind of pressure. Also, the existence of longstanding venerated figures, such as Shakespeare, can deter people from believing that they can write a poem worthy of their loved one.
However, writing is not complicated if you have a guide on how to write a poem about love. In the following post, discover the steps and tips for writing a love poem.
How to Write a Poem About Someone You Love: 7 Tips
1. Get Vulnerable
Vulnerability is the key to the perfect poem about love. It is not about including clever rhyme schemes, overused romantic expressions of love, or sappy metaphors. If vulnerability does not come easy, use the following prompts to help you create your love poem.
- Think about the memories of your boyfriend or girlfriend that make you smile.
- Fantasize about your future together.
- How has your loved one made you a better person?
- What are the habits, behaviors, or gestures that your loved one does that you love?
- What would you miss about them if they weren’t in your life?
- Reflect on the good times you shared with your partner and why you wouldn’t want to spend that time with anyone else.
2. Use Hyperboles
Whether you are writing a love poem for a family member or lover, ensure you pay attention to the little things that go unnoticed, such as how they know when you need your space, the cute notes, how they laugh at your jokes or their clumsy ways.
Translate your feelings into words by incorporating hyperbole. For example, you can write “forever is too short for me and you”, or “my heart could explode.” The exaggerations or outrageous comparisons are poetic and help make sense of strong emotions.
3. Include Fresh Imagery and Metaphors
It is easy to fall into the trap of using familiar tunes like: “head over heels in love” and “love is blind.” The metaphors and images are overused. If you want to create a special poem for a loved one, it is best to take a unique approach. Challenge yourself to look at love through an unexpected lens to create something special for you and your loved one.
Tips for avoiding clichés include bringing a refreshing twist to the existing conventions, seeking unorthodox imagery, playing word associations, or using a metaphor map. These fresh ideas will make your poem heartfelt and unique to you.
4. Choose Your Audience and Make It Personal
A love poem requires clear direction as to who you are writing about. Knowing the audience helps you come up with the best structure and makes it easier for you to write. You can address your poem about love to a romantic partner, a parent, or a friend(s).
When you think about a specific person, the feelings, thoughts, and memories will come up naturally, giving you numerous ideas for your poem.
5. Read Some Good Love Poems
Love has been a favorite topic for poets for a long time. Reading some good love poems helps you learn how to write love poems. There are many examples of short and long poems from famous poets, such as “Sonnet 18” by Shakespeare and “How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The classics of the genre have shaped most of the styles and language used in love poems today. Still, you don’t have to stick to the serious or overused formula. Use the examples as inspiration to help you find the best form that fits your intention and subject.
6. End With a Call to Action or Pronouncement
When ending a love poem, it is advisable to end with a pronouncement or a call to action. For example, you can ask “will you be mine?” You can also end with a lyric that declares your affection for the audience. Although your intentions could be obvious from the rest of the poem, sticking your landing at the end of the poem is a great way to eliminate any doubt.
7. Use the Help of Writing Services
Writing or analyzing academic poetry is often difficult for many students. If you are stuck, you can enlist the help of online paper writing services. The companies assist students with writing all types of poems from scratch. You can also request to work with a professional to review your drafts. By buying a poem online, you are guaranteed that an expert will deliver a custom verse for you. CustomWritings.com is a reputable writing service with exceptionally gifted essay writers that you can hire to help you with any academic assignment in a professional way.
Steps to Writing a Love Poem
1. Brainstorm
The first step is to decide what you want to write. I find that making a list of experiences and sensations related to your loved one can prevent you from getting lost when brainstorming. Do not focus on whether there is a connection between items in the list. Chances are that when you start writing, patterns will emerge, or you will find a way to create a link between your thoughts and memories.
You can use some famous love poems to get ideas and inspiration on how you will write your poem.
2. Choose a Poetry Form
Having a particular form in mind can make writing your love poem a lot easier because it provides you with parameters to work within. The popular forms of poetry for love poems are Sonnet, Concrete, Acrostic, Haiku, and Ode.
Consider reading about the different forms of poetry to understand what will fit your poem. For example, if you plan to write a short poem with lots of rhyme, you can select Haiku. If it is a long poem, you can consider writing a free verse or Sonnet.
3. Write the Poem
Now that you know what you want to write about and how you want to write it, you can start writing the poem. You are free to use a pen and paper, tap on your phone, or type on a laptop as long as you have some uninterrupted time to focus on writing.
Don’t expect the poem to be perfect on the first try. Instead, focus on getting everything in your mind and heart out. You will need to edit the poem a few times and make nuanced decisions to elevate the level of impact your words have. Use different literary devices to increase creativity and word choice.
4. Proofread
Finally, proofread your poem to ensure it is error-free. A poem that is full of mistakes will not convince an audience of adults or kids of your love. Read the love poem aloud to make sure it makes sense and flows well. You can also have someone you trust look it over and give feedback.
If there is anything awkward or weird, you can make changes and tweak your wording to ensure it makes sense. The presentation should also be thoughtful.
