9 Steps for Writing Effective Free Verse Poems
Learn to write free verse poetry: definition, tips, and step-by-step guide. Explore characteristics, techniques, and examples to create unique poems.
Poetry has been around for ages, but free verse is a different type of poetry that emerged in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
It all started with Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" in 1855, which broke away from traditional rhymes and rhythms.
Other poets in America and Europe followed Whitman's lead, experimenting with looser forms.
By the early 20th century, poets like Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot were using free verse to express modern ideas in new ways.
According to an analysis by Poets & Writers, approximately 60-70% of the poems published in major literary journals like "Poetry" and "The New Yorker" are in free verse.
Free verse is poetry without strict rules. It doesn't have to rhyme or follow a set rhythm, giving poets more freedom to express themselves.
In this article, we'll explore free verse poetry, including:
- What exactly is a free verse poem?
- The characteristics of free verse poetry
- Guidelines for writing free verse poems
- How to write a free verse poem step by step?
- Techniques and tips to improve your free verse writing
- Free verse poem examples and their analysis
Additional guides:
- 7 Rules of Writing an Elegy Poem
- 8 Steps To Write A Narrative Poems
- 6 Steps To Write A Concrete Poem In Few Minutes
- Limerick Poems: A complete guide to write a limerick poem
Let's explore why free verse has become such a popular way for poets to share their thoughts and feelings.
Free verse poem definition
A free verse poem is a type of poetry that doesn't follow strict rules. Unlike older forms of poetry, free verse doesn't have to rhyme or have a set rhythm. Poets can make their lines as long or short as they want, and they don't have to stick to a specific pattern.
This freedom lets poets write in a way that sounds more like natural speech. They can arrange their words to best express their ideas and feelings.
While free verse doesn't have rigid rules, poets can still use repetition or comparisons to make their poems more impactful.
The main focus is on what the poem says rather than how it's structured. This style makes it easier for poets to share their thoughts in their own unique way.
Many modern poets, like Maya Angelou, Allen Ginsberg, and Rupi Kaur, choose free verse because it allows them to make about complex ideas in a more relaxed and easy to understand manner.
Picture this: Imagine a student hunched over a desk, surrounded by a messy pile of books and notes, looking stressed as they try to write a school essay.
Now picture the same student writing a free verse poem. They’re relaxed in their chair, looking comfortable, and words seem to come to them easily.
This contrast shows what free verse poetry is all about – it lets writers break free from strict rules and lets their thoughts flow naturally.
Free verse poem rules
Free verse poetry doesn't have strict rules, but here are some helpful tips to follow before writing a free verse poem:
1. Choosing the right words
Pick words that fit your topic. Here’s how:
- For exciting and fun topics, use short, quick words:
Go, up, fast, quick
- For playful and lively topics, use sound words:
Zip, zoom, slip, splash
- For calm and quiet topics, use gentle words:
Peace, serene, calm, tranquil
Examples:
- Fast Words:
The thunderstorm was starting
The trees flick back and forth
Quick raindrops hit the windows
Splish splash splosh
A lightning bolt breaks the clouds
Crack!
- Slow Words:
Peace is...
Floating on still water
Hands gliding across the surface
Feeling the breeze passing by
2. Use the alliteration
Alliteration is when two or more words start with the same sound. It makes the poem sound musical.
Seven Silly Sizzling Sausages.
Alliteration Example:
A snake slithered
She slid across the smooth grass
Sounds serenading her senses
Soaking in the sun
The secret life of a snake
3. Use the personification
Personification gives human actions to non-human things, making them feel alive.
Personification Example:
The stars winked at me as I walked in the night
The moon peeked out from hiding
The darkness covered me like a blanket
The summer breeze hugged me warmly
Characteristics of a free verse poem
- Poetry without strict rules
- No required rhymes
- No set rhythm
- Lines can be any length
- Sounds like natural speech
- Focuses on expressing ideas freely
- Words arranged to fit the poet's message
- Content matters more than structure
- Can use poetic techniques if desired
- Allows poets to express themselves uniquely
How to write a free verse poem?
1. Express freely, but write the poem poetically
Free verse poetry gives you a lot of freedom. You can write long lines or short ones, use fancy words or simple ones.
But even with all this freedom, remember that you're still writing a poem. The goal is to make readers feel something or see things in a new way.
You can use techniques like:
- Repeating certain words or phrases for emphasis
- Using words that sound alike (like "crash" and "splash") to create a rhythm
- Comparing two unlike things to create an image (like saying "my love is a red, red rose")
These techniques can make your poem more interesting to read and hear.
2. Select a theme or subject
Picking a theme or subject for your poem is like deciding what story you want to tell. It can be anything that catches your attention or matters to you.
Maybe it's a feeling you had today, like happiness or sadness.
It could be a memory from your childhood or something you saw on your way to work.
Even simple things, like a tree in your backyard or your favorite coffee mug, can be great subjects for a poem.
The important thing is to choose something that makes you feel something - excitement, curiosity, or even confusion.
When you write about something that matters to you, your words will come more easily and your poem will feel more genuine.
3. Think about how you want to present your poem
After you've chosen what to write about, think about how you want to present it.
Consider the mood you're aiming for. If you're writing about a happy memory, you might want your poem to feel bright and cheerful.
If you're writing about a difficult experience, your poem might have a more serious or sad tone.
This step is about deciding the overall feeling you want your poem to have. It will help you choose the right words and style as you write.
4. Brainstorm keywords and images
Now, grab a piece of paper and write down any words that come to mind when you think about your subject.
If you're writing about the ocean, you might write down words like "blue," "waves," "sand," "salty," or "seagulls."
Don't worry about making perfect sentences yet. Just write down single words or short phrases.
Include any feelings or memories these words bring up too. This list will be like your toolbox when you start making your poem.
The more words and ideas you collect now, the more choices you'll have later.
5. Study effective free verse
Reading poems by other writers can teach you a lot. Look for free verse poems in books or online.
Some famous free verse poets include Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, and Mary Oliver.
As you read their poems, pay attention to:
- How they arrange their words on the page
- The types of words they choose
- How they create images or feelings with their words
You don't need to copy these poets, but their work can inspire you and show you what's possible in free verse poetry.
6. Analyze poetic techniques
When you find a poem you really like, try to figure out why you like it.
Is it the way the poet describes things? The emotions it makes you feel? The rhythm of the words? Look closely at how the poet achieved these effects.
Do you know? On platforms like AllPoetry, around 65% of user-submitted poems are categorized as free verse.
They might have used words to help you imagine the scene better. Or perhaps they repeated certain sounds to create a rhythm.
Understanding these techniques can help you use similar ones in your own unique way.
7. Create your first draft
It's time to start writing your poem. Using your list of words and ideas, begin putting them together into lines and sentences.
Don't worry about making it perfect - this is just your first try.
In free verse poetry, you don't need to make things rhyme or count syllables. Just write your thoughts as they come to you.
If you want to start a new line, do it whenever it feels right. Your goal is to get your ideas out of your head and onto the paper.
8. Polish your free verse poem at the end
After you've written your first draft, take a break.
Come back to your poem later with fresh eyes. Read it out loud to yourself. How does it sound? Are there any parts that don't feel quite right? This is your chance to make changes.
You might want to:
- Remove words that don't add much to your poem
- Add more descriptive words to make your ideas clearer
- Change the order of your lines if it makes more sense
- Adjust where your lines break to emphasize certain words
9. Get the feedback of your poem
Sharing your poem with others can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Choose people you trust - maybe a friend, family member, or teacher.
Ask them to read your poem and tell you what they think. What parts did they like best? Was anything confusing? Their feedback can help you see your poem in new ways.
But remember, it's your poem. You don't have to make every change they suggest. Use their input to make your poem stronger, but keep your own unique voice.
Free verse poem examples
- "Fog" by Carl Sandburg
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Carl Sandburg wrote this poem, which was first published in his 1916 collection "Chicago Poems." This poem is indeed a free verse poem, as it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter.
In this poem, Sandburg uses a metaphor to compare fog to a cat, describing how it moves silently and mysteriously over a city. The poem evokes a sense of quiet, gentle movement and observation.
The lesson or insight this poem offers is the beauty and subtlety that can be found in everyday natural phenomena. It encourages readers to look at common occurrences, like fog, with fresh eyes and appreciate their quiet grace.
- "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens
Written in 1923, this short poem focuses on a red wheelbarrow and white chickens. Williams uses simple language to highlight ordinary objects.
He's saying that these everyday things are actually very important. The poem makes readers think about how small, common items can have big meanings in our lives.
- "Harlem" by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Published in 1951, this poem asks what happens to dreams that are delayed or never achieved. Hughes uses vivid images like a dried raisin or a festering sore to describe unfulfilled dreams.
He's talking about the frustration and pain of not being able to follow your dreams, especially for African Americans facing discrimination. The poem makes people think about the effects of social injustice.
- "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
This poem is written in 1934, this poem looks like a casual note left on a refrigerator. The speaker apologizes for eating plums that someone else was probably saving.
While simple, the poem explores themes of temptation, forgiveness, and the small moments that make up relationships. It shows how poetry can be found in everyday situations.
- "I carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)" by e.e. Cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
This poem was published in 1952, this is a love poem. Cummings uses unusual spelling and punctuation to express deep feelings.
The poet is saying that he carries his loved one's heart inside his own heart. This means their love is so strong that it's always with him. The poem describes love as a powerful force that's part of everything the speaker does.
Conclusion
Free verse poetry gives you the freedom to express yourself without strict rules. Using the tips we've discussed, you can start writing your own unique poems.
What ideas or feelings would you like to share through a free verse poem?
Try writing your first free verse poem today. Pick a topic you care about, write down some words that come to mind, and then turn them into a poem. Don't worry about making it perfect - just enjoy expressing yourself. If you want, share your poem with a friend or family member for feedback.
FAQ’s
1. Are most poems free verse?
No, not all poems are free verse; many still use traditional forms.
2. What are the rules for free verse?
Free verse has no strict rules or format.
3. What poet is best known for free verse?
Walt Whitman is best known for free verse.
4. Why do poets choose free verse?
Poets choose free verse for its flexibility and expressive freedom.
5. Which statement describes a major difference between a traditional poem and a free verse poem?
A major difference is that a traditional poem follows a specific meter and rhyme scheme, while a free verse poem does not.
