Writing poetry is a way of exploring your inner world. The best part is: anyone can do it. Whether you’re writing to explore emotions or simply for fun, these prompts will inspire your imagination.
The idea of penning poetry can be daunting for many.
You might think your words won’t be good enough to be considered poetic or that poems are just something you have to study at school. But composing your own verses can enrich your life in many ways, and you don’t need to be the next poet laureate to give it a go.
Whether you prefer to keep a notebook, scrawl lines on a scrap of paper, or type into a notes app on your phone, writing poetry offers a wide range of benefits.
Poet Roy McFarlane says: ‘Poetry is an emotional outlet and a compass to our humanity. It is a safe space to be vulnerable, to be a witness, to be a voice for the voiceless.’
LET WORDS SUPPORT YOUR WELLBEING
Studies have shown that creativity and self-expression can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing, reducing stress and anxiety. Many find that exploring emotions on paper offers therapeutic benefits, clarifying and communicating feelings which might otherwise be hard to articulate.
As well as being a personal pursuit, creative writing can connect you to others. Imagine how it would feel to share your words with those close to you or write a poem as a gift for a loved one.
Poetry can capture special moments that you never want to forget, be a form of escapism, provide a fun outlet for your imagination to run wild, or a means of voicing your values and raising awareness about important issues to initiate change. Roy encourages you to ‘write your story, write what excites you’.
WRITE WITHOUT PRESSURE OR RULES
There are lots of easy ways to embrace your creative side (see opposite and over the page). You could write a verse every day for a week to get your words flowing. Let go of expectations and see where your imagination takes you.
Don’t be put off by worries that your work should sound a particular way or reach a certain standard – anyone can enjoy playing with words. So put aside any pressure to pen an instant masterpiece and give yourself permission to not be perfect.
Writing poetry allows you to explore your inner world and provides a chance for your imagination to express itself in whatever way feels good. Who knows where it will lead…
DRAW INSPIRATION FROM PEOTRY GREATS
Physician and mathematician Isaac Newton said: ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ Roy agrees: ‘My first advice is to read poetry.’ Use the suggestions below to draw inspiration from literary greats.
- Moved by the sight of some daffodils, William Wordsworth wrote I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud as a testament to how certain experiences can impact us long after the event itself has passed. What experience do you remember fondly that lifts your mood?
- Amanda Gorman’s An Ode We Owe is a rallying cry for all nations to come together and preserve the planet.
- Choose a cause you care passionately about and write your own call to arms.
- In her poem Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me, Maya Angelou expresses her love and admiration of her mother. Who is an important person in your life? Write a poem expressing gratitude for their presence.
- The importance of a recognising that you’re a part of nature is at the heart of The Natural World by George Mpanga (AKA George the Poet). Find a green space and write a poem about how being there affects your mood.
- Emily Dickinson’s ‘Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers personifies hope as a bird. Think of a feeling or characteristic you’d like to write about – what animal could symbolise this quality?
- The Immigrant’s Song by Tishani Doshi explores the complexity of the immigrant experience, including having bittersweet memories of home. Write a poem about your own home and what it means to you.
FIND INSPIRATION IN THE EVERYDAY
If you’d rather take your lead from the world around you, try the following prompts:
- Pick a piece of instrumental music (you could choose a song with vocals, but the exercise is more effective without lyrics) and, as you’re listening to it, write whatever comes to mind. Write continuously, without pausing, until the end of the song.
- Think of a short quote that’s meaningful to you – it could be a line of poetry, a personal mantra, or even a lyric. Write a poem in which the last word of each line reveals that quote. This form of poem is called a golden shovel.
- Try your hand at a shape poem – simply arrange your lines of poetry into the shape of whatever they’re describing.
- Write a poem from the perspective of your favourite character in a book or film. Then write another from the perspective of a character you find it harder to sympathise with.
- Write a poem from an object’s point of view. What would a stone say if it could talk? How is this different from a spoon’s way of seeing life?
- Pick a vowel and write a poem in which every word includes that vowel.
Feeling inspired? Download this cute page and put pen to paper.
WORDS: HEATHER CASEY LEIGH
This article was originally published under the title Verses from the Soul in Issue 45 – Lead the Way. You can get this issue here to enjoy more mindful inspiration.
