5 Tips to Write an Ode Poem for Beginners
Learn 5 tips to write beautiful ode poems. Discover types, steps, and examples to create your own lyrical masterpiece.
Ode poems have a long and interesting history, starting with the ancient Greeks who used them to celebrate both the divine and nature.
These lyrical poems, often written in detailed and structured forms, have fascinated writers and readers for many years.
For beginners, writing an ode might seem challenging, but with some helpful tips, it can be a fun and fulfilling task.
According to Writers' Digest, 82% of writers say that odes are easier to write when they choose a topic they're passionate about.
In this article, we’ll look at five key tips along with steps of writing these poems and examples.
It will help you to write an ode poem, making it easy and enjoyable for even the youngest poets.
Definition
An ode is a type of poem that expresses deep feelings and admiration for a person, object, or event. Odes are usually written in a formal, lyrical style and have a serious, contemplative tone.
They often use clear imagery and elevated language to convey the poet's emotions and thoughts. Odes can be structured in different ways, but they typically have a consistent rhyme scheme and meter.
The purpose of an ode is to celebrate and honor the subject, whether it's a person, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea.
Types of ode poems
Following are the types of ode poems:
1. Pindaric ode
A pindaric ode is a type of ode that follows a specific structure. It was invented by the ancient Greek poet Pindar.
Pindaric odes have a triadic structure, with three main sections: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode.
Each section has its own rhyme scheme and rhythm, making the Pindaric ode a complex and formal type of poem.
2. Horatian ode
A horatian ode is a type of ode that is less formal and structured than the pindaric ode. It was created by the Roman poet Horace.
Horatian odes often have a conversational tone and focus on themes of love, nature, or the pleasures of life. They typically have a consistent rhyme scheme and meter throughout the poem.
3. Irregular ode
An irregular ode is a type of ode that does not follow a specific structure or rhyme scheme.
Instead, it allows the poet to experiment with different forms and styles.
Irregular odes can have varying lengths, rhythms, and rhyme patterns, giving the poet more freedom to express their thoughts and feelings in a unique way.
Tips to write an ode poem
These are the most important and helpful tips for writing an ode poem:
1. Select a subject carefully
When writing an ode, it's important to choose a subject that you feel passionately about. This could be a person, a place, an object, or even an abstract idea. The subject should be something that inspires you and that you want to celebrate and honor through your poem.
Choosing the right subject for your ode is crucial. It should be something that truly inspires you and sparks your creativity.
"Step 1 of writing an ode:"
"Find something you love... and exaggerate it!"
2. Express your deep emotion
Odes are all about expressing deep emotions and feelings. As you write your ode, try to convey the wonder, admiration, or respect you feel towards your subject.
Use clear language and imagery to help the reader understand and share in your emotional experience.
3. Use poetic devices
Odes often employ a variety of poetic devices to create a sense of rhythm, melody, and elevated language. Consider using techniques like metaphor, simile, alliteration, and repetition to enhance the beauty and power of your poem.
4. Understand the structure
Odes can take on different structural forms, but they typically have a consistent rhyme scheme and meter.
Research the various types of odes, such as the Pindaric, Horatian, and irregular odes, and choose a structure that best fits your subject and style.
5. Revise and edit
Writing an ode is a process, and it's important to take the time to revise and edit your work.
Read your poem aloud, look for areas that can be improved, and be open to making changes until you feel that your ode truly captures the essence of your subject.
How to write an ode poem in 8 steps?
Here are the 8 steps of writing an ode poem:
1. Choose a subject
Pick a person, object, or event that you feel deeply passionate about. This will be the focus of your ode. Choosing the right subject is crucial, as it will determine the tone and content of your poem.
In a Poetry Foundation Survey, 65% of beginner poets struggle with finding the right subject for their odes.
2. Research and reflect
Gather information about your subject and reflect on why it is important to you. This will help you develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for your topic, which will be evident in your writing.
3. Decide on the ode type
There are different types of odes, such as the Pindaric, Horatian, and Irregular ode. Choose the one that best fits your subject and writing style, as each type has its own unique structure and approach.
4. Outline the structure
Odes typically have a consistent rhyme scheme and meter. Plan out the structure of your poem before you start writing, as this will help you stay focused and organized.
While not all odes need to rhyme, many traditional forms do incorporate rhyme schemes. This can be challenging for beginners.
"When you realize an ode needs to rhyme."
"Suddenly, everything is a 'cat in a hat' situation."
5. Write the opening stanza
Begin your ode with a powerful and engaging opening that captures the reader's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
This is your chance to hook the reader and draw them into your subject.
6. Develop the body
In the body of the ode, expand on your subject and use clear imagery, metaphors, and elevated language to convey your emotions and thoughts. This is where you will explore the significance of your topic.
7. Conclude strongly
End your ode with a powerful and memorable conclusion that strengthens the significance and importance of your subject. This is your last chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader.
But, there is also another way to write your ode poem. You can generate it using an AI poem maker to have a perfect poem in just a couple of seconds.
8. Revise and edit
Once you've written your ode, take the time to revise and edit it to ensure that it is polished and well-written. This is an important step that can help you refine your poem and make it the best it can be.
Examples
These are some famous ode poems:
Ode poems about nature
1. Ode to a Nightingale
Poet: John Keats
Written in: 1819
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
'Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thine happiness,—
That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.
O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been
Cool'd a long age in the deep-delved earth,
Tasting of Flora and the country green,
Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth!
O for a beaker full of the warm South,
Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene,
With beaded bubbles winking at the brim,
And purple-stained mouth;
That I might drink, and leave the world unseen,
And with thee fade away into the forest dim:
Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget
What thou among the leaves hast never known,
The weariness, the fever, and the fret
Here, where men sit and hear each other groan;
Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last gray hairs,
Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies;
Where but to think is to be full of sorrow
And leaden-eyed despairs,
Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes,
Or new Love pine at them beyond to-morrow.
Away! away! for I will fly to thee,
Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,
But on the viewless wings of Poesy,
Though the dull brain perplexes and retards:
Already with thee! tender is the night,
And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne,
Cluster'd around by all her starry Fays;
But here there is no light,
Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown
Through verdurous glooms and winding mossy ways.
I cannot see what flowers are at my feet,
Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs,
But, in embalmed darkness, guess each sweet
Wherewith the seasonable month endows
The grass, the thicket, and the fruit-tree wild;
White hawthorn, and the pastoral eglantine;
Fast fading violets cover'd up in leaves;
And mid-May's eldest child,
The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine,
The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves.
Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain,
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such an ecstasy!
Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain—
To thy high requiem become a sod.
Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!
No hungry generations tread thee down;
The voice I hear this passing night was heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown:
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
She stood in tears amid the alien corn;
The same that oft-times hath
Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.
Forlorn! the very word is like a bell
To toll me back from thee to my sole self!
Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well
As she is fam'd to do, deceiving elf.
Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades
Past the near meadows, over the still stream,
Up the hill-side; and now 'tis buried deep
In the next valley-glades:
Was it a vision, or a waking dream?
Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?
Summary
This poem is about someone who feels sad and tired, wishing they could escape their troubles and join a magical, singing nightingale in the forest. The nightingale's beautiful song makes the person forget their worries and dream of a peaceful, happy place.
2. Ode to the Sea
Poet: Pablo Neruda
Written in: 1950
I need the sea because it teaches me.
I don’t know if I learn music or awareness,
if it’s a single wave or its vast existence,
or only its harsh voice or its shining
suggestion of fishes and ships.
The fact is that until I fall asleep,
in some magnetic way I move in
the university of the waves.
It’s not simply the shells crunched
as if some shivering planet
were giving signs of its gradual death;
no, I reconstruct the day out of a fragment,
the stalactite from the sliver of salt,
and the great god out of a spoonful.
What it taught me before, I keep. It’s air
ceaseless wind, water and sand.
It seems a small thing for a young person,
to have come here to live with his own fire;
nevertheless, the pulse that rose
and fell in its abyss,
the crackling of the blue cold,
the gradual wearing away of the star,
the soft unfolding of the wave
squandering snow with its foam,
the quiet power out there, sure
as a stone shrine in the depths,
replaced my world in which were growing
stubborn sorrow, gathering oblivion,
and my life changed suddenly:
as I became part of its pure movement.
Summary
The poem talks about how the sea teaches the speaker important things. It helps them learn about music, awareness, and the beauty of nature. The sea makes the speaker feel connected to its powerful, endless movement, changing their life and thoughts in a special way.
Love ode poems
3. To My Dear and Loving Husband
Poet: Anne Bradstreet
Written in: 1678
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Summary
In this poem, the speaker tells their partner how much they love them, saying it's more valuable than gold or riches. They hope their love will last forever and that their love for each other will be remembered even after they are gone.
4. Ode on Melancholy
Poet: John Keats
Written in: 1819
No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist
Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss'd
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries,
Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow's mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.
But when the melancholy fit shall fall
Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud,
That fosters the droop-headed flowers all,
And hides the green hill in an April shroud;
Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose,
Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave,
Or on the wealth of globed peonies;
Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,
Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,
And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.
She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die;
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh,
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips:
Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veil'd Melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine;
His soul shalt taste the sadness of her might,
And be among her cloudy trophies hung.
Summary
This poem warns against using dark or harmful things to deal with sadness. Instead, it suggests finding beauty in things like flowers, rainbows, or the eyes of someone you love. Even though joy and beauty can be fleeting, embracing these moments helps with sorrow.
Ode poems for life
5. Ode on a Grecian Urn
Poet: John Keats
Written in: 1819
Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd,
For ever panting, and for ever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd,
A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.
Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little town by river or sea shore,
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.
O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Summary
This poem describes a beautiful, ancient sculpture that shows scenes of nature and mythology. The speaker admires how the sculpture captures timeless beauty and how it will always remain perfect, even as people and things change. The message is that beauty and truth are the most important things we need to understand.
6. Ode to a Skylark
Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Written in: 1820
Hail to thee, blithe spirit—
Bird thou never wert—
That from heaven or near it
Pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
Higher still and higher
From the earth thou springest,
Like a cloud of fire;
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar and soaring ever singest.
In the golden lightning
Of the sunken sun,
O’er which clouds are brightening,
Thou dost float and run,
Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun.
The pale purple even
Melts around thy flight;
Like a star of heaven,
In the broad daylight
Thou art unseen, but yet I hear thy shrill delight.
Keen as are the arrows
Of that silver sphere
Whose intense lamp narrows
In the white dawn clear,
Until we hardly see, we feel that it is there.
All the earth and air
With thy voice is loud,
As, when night is bare,
From one lonely cloud
The moon rains out her beams, and heaven is overflowed.
What thou art we know not;
What is most like thee?
From rainbow-clouds there flow not
Drops so bright to see
As from thy presence showers a rain of melody:—
Like a poet hidden
In the light of thought;
Singing hymns unbidden,
Till the world is wrought
To sympathy with hopes and fears it heeded not.
Like a high-born maiden
In a palace-tower,
Soothing her love-laden
Soul in secret hour
With music sweet as love, which overflows her bower:
Like a glow-worm golden
In a dell of dew,
Scattering unbeholden
Its aërial hue
Among the flowers and grass which screen it from the view:
Like a rose embowered
In its own green leaves,
By warm winds deflowered,
Till the scent it gives
Makes faint with too much sweet these heavy-wingéd thieves:
Sound of vernal showers
On the twinkling grass,
Rain-awakened flowers—
All that ever was
Joyous and clear and fresh—thy music doth surpass.
Teach us, sprite or bird,
What sweet thoughts are thine:
I have never heard
Praise of love or wine
That panted forth a flood of rapture so divine.
Chorus hymeneal
Or triumphal chaunt,
Matched with thine, would be all
But an empty vaunt—
A thing wherein we feel there is some hidden want.
What objects are the fountains
Of thy happy strain?
What fields, or waves, or mountains?
What shapes of sky or plain?
What love of thine own kind? what ignorance of pain?
With thy clear keen joyance
Languor cannot be:
Shadow of annoyance
Never came near thee:
Thou lovest, but ne’er knew love’s sad satiety.
Waking or asleep,
Thou of death must deem
Things more true and deep
Than we mortals dream,
Or how could thy notes flow in such a crystal stream?
We look before and after,
And pine for what is not:
Our sincerest laughter
With some pain is fraught;
Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.
Yet, if we could scorn
Hate and pride and fear,
If we were things born
Not to shed a tear,
I know not how thy joy we ever should come near.
Better than all measures
Of delightful sound,
Better than all treasures
That in books are found,
Thy skill to poet were, thou scorner of the ground!
Teach me half the gladness
That thy brain must know,
Such harmonious madness
From my lips would flow,
The world should listen then, as I am listening now!
Summary
This poem is about a magical bird that sings beautifully and freely in the sky. The poet admires how the bird's song brings joy and seems to have no worries or sadness. The poet wishes they could understand and feel the same pure happiness as the bird.
Kids ode poems
7. Ode to My Socks
Poet: Pablo Neruda
Written in: 1959
Mara Mori brought me
a pair of socks
which she knitted herself
with her sheepherder's hands,
two socks as soft as rabbits.
I slipped my feet into them
as if they were two cases
knitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,
Violent socks,
my feet were two fish made of wool,
two long sharks
sea blue, shot through
by one golden thread,
two immense blackbirds,
two cannons,
my feet were honored in this way
by these heavenly socks.
They were so handsome for the first time
my feet seemed to me unacceptable
like two decrepit firemen,
firemen unworthy of that woven fire,
of those glowing socks.
Nevertheless, I resisted the sharp temptation
to save them somewhere as schoolboys
keep fireflies,
as learned men collect
sacred texts,
I resisted the mad impulse to put them
in a golden cage and each day give them
birdseed and pieces of pink melon.
Like explorers in the jungle
who hand over the very rare green deer
to the spit and eat it with remorse,
I stretched out my feet and pulled on
the magnificent socks and then my shoes.
The moral of my ode is this:
beauty is twice beauty
and what is good is doubly good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool in winter.
Summary
In the poem, the poet receives a beautiful pair of handmade wool socks from Mara Mori. They are so special and soft that the person feels their feet are not worthy of them. Despite the temptation to keep the socks as a treasure, they decide to wear them and enjoy their beauty. The poem shows how something simple can be even more special when you appreciate it.
8. The Lily
Poet: William Blake
Written in: 1794
The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,
The humble sheep a threat'ning horn:
While the Lily white shall in love delight,
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.
Summary
This poem says that even though roses have thorns and sheep have horns that can be threatening, the pure white lily remains lovely and unblemished by any danger. It means that some things are always beautiful and kind, no matter what.
Conclusion
In the end, writing an ode poem is all about honoring the things that mean the most to you. Whether it's a person, a place, or an idea, use your words to celebrate its beauty and significance.
Don't worry if it's not perfect at first - the process of revising and refining your poem is part of what makes it special.
Most importantly, have fun with it. So why not give it a try today? Give it a try and see how you can create a beautiful ode that celebrates the things you love.
FAQS
1. What is an ode?
An ode is a type of poem that expresses admiration or deep feelings for a person, object, or event. It often uses a formal and lyrical style, with rich language and imagery.
2. How do I choose a subject for my ode?
Pick something you feel passionate about, whether it's a person, a place, or even an abstract idea. The subject should inspire you to write with admiration and emotion.
3. What poetic devices should I use in an ode?
Odes often use metaphors, similes, alliteration, and repetition to create rhythm and elevate the language. These devices help convey the deep emotions and admiration that define an ode.
4. How should I structure my ode?
While some odes have a specific structure (like the Pindaric or Horatian odes), others are more flexible (like the Irregular ode). Decide on a structure that best suits your subject and style, and try to maintain a consistent rhyme scheme and meter.
5. Can I write an ode in my own style?
Yes, while traditional odes have set structures, you can write an irregular ode that allows for more creative freedom. Focus on expressing your admiration and emotions in a way that feels authentic to you.
6. How do I start writing my ode?
Begin by choosing your subject and reflecting on why it inspires you. Start with a strong opening that captures the reader's attention, then develop your ideas with clear imagery and emotion. Conclude with a powerful ending that leaves a lasting impression.
