HOW TO WRITE A GOOD POEM (An Online Lecture)

BERNARD IFEANYI PRESTIGE, THE LECTURER

LECTURER: PRESTIGE

PRESTIGE: Now, this will go on like a discussion where we shall be sharing our knowledge on how to write a good poem.

Like they say, "givers never lack". I won't be the only one giving because I want everybody to partake in this blessing.

So, to start with, let's define the term, 'poem'.

Please, you are allowed to only Google your mind and imagination, not the net. Just define, 'poem' in your own terms.

VABEC: Poem is a creative construction of an imaginary sagacity polished in the presence of creativity.

ZIGBO: Poem is pouring out your emotions or state of mind creatively in other to be understood by people. it doesn't require an exaggerated words to explain itself.

OGHENETEGHA: Poem is an inner expression from d writer about a feeling, words, action etc.

NGOZI: Poem is pouring out some thought in stanzas.

NEO: A poem is creative perception drawn from the universe to your thought and written in verses.

PRESTIGE: Universe, verses...Neo rhyming good. nice definition. Nice one guys. You are all correct in your definitions. Now, let's crack the core of the subject, "writing a good poem". I love numbers. Some of my favorite numbers are 33, 3, 7, 53. But this night I want to pick a sexy number. 33 is a symbol of Truth. I will work with figure 8 tonight. I will share 8 tips on how to write a good poem.

Writing a good poem is all about observing nature, our immediate environment, our experiences and just like Neo said, the universe, and taking notes of thoughts and emotions erupting from our minds and hearts.

I won't be teaching the mechanics that make up a poem or teach you figures of speech and how to construct sentences. I don't intend giving you the fish, but sharing with you on how to fish good poems and bring them to existence.

TIP 1 (ONE): GET INSPIRATION:

I don't know what your source of inspiration is, but whatever it is, come in contact with it, have a reunion.

ZIGBO: Strong point sir.

PRESTIGE: My own sources of inspiration are God, nature and Music. So, anytime I want to write a poem, I need to pray, feel nature and perhaps listen to good music. A particular scene you want to write about, either by visiting there physically or you can visit in your mind. For example, when I wrote about traffic, I gathered some lines on the 3rd Mainland bridge. If you want to write about animals and their behaviors, then why don't you visit the zoo to get more inspired by nature. However, like I said earlier, you can visit in your mind. Imagination is powerful!

Tip 2(two): READ AND LISTEN TO POETRY:

Yes, read a good poem everyday. I subscribed to 'poem-a-day.org' and I receive a poem everyday which includes a short note about the poem and it's author. Read! Read!! Read!!!

Now, let me ask. What have you read today?

YAVIC: Books on physics and some engineering courses.

PRESTIGE: Wow nice Yavic.

PRICELESS: Updates here on SRAF.

OGHENETEGHA: Beyond purpose... A book on actualizing your goals and dreams

ZIGBO: I read a christian periodical bt didn't finish it.

PRESTIGE: Priceless, you are indeed priceless, thanks for your sincerity.

NEO: Read on THE POWER OF THE MIND: MIND MANAGEMENT.

PRESTIGE: Also, read wide; read classical, fiction, non-fiction, short stories, theological books, philosophical books, history (this is important). Poets should know history and have a philosophical understanding of terms like love, justice, truth, freedom etc which always reflect in their works. Listen to poets recite their poems, attend poetry readings, book reading, what have you. Find some good song lyrics and read them like poetry. In doing this, you sharpen your minds and create a strong foundation for your imaginations. Let me say this again. Read! Read!! Read!!!

Tip 3(three): IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY SKILLS:

Work on your vocabulary. As a poet, you should be a master of words. Build your vocabulary. Learn new words everyday and use them in your communication. However, do not be grandiloquent. By that I mean you should not use big words for the purpose of showing off your knowledge. Simplicity is awesome. Embrace it! And remember the primary aim is to communicate your thoughts and emotions through your words. For example, most Unilag students didn't know what the word 'indemnity' mean until the school mandated them to download and complete the form. So, download apps and dictionaries on your phone.

And use them effectively. Also engage in word games like scrabble. Poets are good scrabblers. Poet Patilala (Patricia Kio) won the best female Scrabbler in the 2015 Scrabble tournament in Shell Club, Port Harcourt. Before we move over to tip 4, let's attend to 3 questions only.

First @Zigbo reading is good but some people abuse it. They get so obsessed with it that do this activity under stress. The brain is highly capable to assimilate but imagine sitting down for 11 hours. Stress will build up and affect the brain in turn. Secondly, some people are sick. Some brain disease...so, any deep stuff they read and ponder on can make their minds awilo.

NEO: About vocabulary (Word bank), can poets misuse the wrong word for an intended context?

PRESTIGE: Neo, it depends. Creativity can demand some weird stuff. Look at the poetic device, Antiptosis, where you have to switch pronoun. But when it is grammatically wrong, that is, it doesn't fit the context, then why do that? No one would code your intentions.

Tip 4 (four): SELECT YOUR STRUCTURE/STYLE:

At this point, I would like to say that poetry is subdivided into page poetry and spoken word poetry. Now, you have to decide which poetry style you would like to write. Page poems are somewhat deeper than spoken word poems. In spoken word poems, writers should deliberately make use of some figures of speech that would enhance the sound production as this has to be pleasant to the ears as well as engage your audience on a thinking process while passing a message. So, when writing a spoken word poem, you might want to consider using the following figures of speech; Rhyme, Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Anadiplosis, Pun, Strong rhythm, Repetition, Anaphora, etc. Most of the above figures of speech makes your work mnemonic. For page poems, you have to decide if you want to go on a free verse, haiku, sonnet etc. But here, you have to understand the structure and play by the rules.  

For example, you need to apply the iambic pentameter and ababcdcdefefgg rhyme scheme in writing a sonnet. Rules are to be strictly followed. Gather your tools together. It is like cooking egusi soup, get your ingredients ready for the particular structure you want your poem to look like. Visualize it first. Sometimes you might want Egusi soup with goat meat, sometimes with fish. So, know what you want first.

Tip 5(five): RESEARCH/BROOD OVER YOUR TOPIC:

Yes, just like a final year project course, research on the topic you want to write about. Take your time. How would you want to write about green house effect without know the green house gases. How can you write about fufu without knowing how it is being prepared. You jump into writing cos you only know how to eat it. No! Writers should learn to do thorough research before venturing into writing and brood over your topic for days and weeks. Remember the famous Monalisa Painting was done in like 3 years. Even if it takes you 5 years to write a poem. It is worth it. That poem can last a millennium. Even if it is the only poem you write in your life. You need 3Ps to pull through this; Patience, perseverance and Passion.

Tip 6(six): USE POETIC DEVICES:

There are over 333 poetic devices; play with them. Variety, they say is the spice of life. Some people dwell so much on rhymes, rhymes rhymes but that is just one device out of many and most of us force the rhymes. Please stay calm, I want to whisper something into your ears...*Rhyming is not compulsory* Explore the figures of speech and use them creatively.

Also, you can invent a figure of speech with time when you gain mastery in the art. It is possible! Just keep building yourself.

Tip 7(seven) USE IMAGERY:

Yes, use imagery and vivid descriptions. In doing this, think of the 5 senses; See, smell, touch, hear and taste. Your readers need to feel your words, smell it, taste it, hear it, etc. Use something trending that anyone can relate with. Let your work be rich in imagery. It feeds the mind's eye. Remember "Seeing is believing"

Tip 8(eight) EDIT YOUR POEMS:

Before you send out your poems to be edited, do it yourself. Edit it! Reduce the errors to the bearest minimum. Give a clear way for the editor to pass through. Read it out loud and edit it to your best taste. Then you can share it. Give it to out to be critiqued by good critics. Good Poets and loving ones too. Because, some poets can be killers with their remarks. I recommend a lecture on how to critique here. Observe the good and strong side first before picking out the stones in the beans. Keep working on the poem from time to time and listen attentively to the critics.

Pls let me sound this note of warning before we conclude on tip 8. Do not give your page poem to a spoken word poet to edit, he might end up adding a tail(tale) to it. And do not give your spoken word poem to a page poet to edit, he might end up amputating it. Page poems are short, no unnecessary words. No stories. No long thing. Very precise. But spoken word will give you more details.

EWELUGO: I have a question sire @Ifeanyi.

PRESTIGE: OK, before I take questions, let me end this lecture with my favorite quote on writing by Tara Moss.

"Write. Start writing today. Start writing right now. Don’t write it right, just write it –and then make it right later. Give yourself the mental freedom to enjoy the process, because the process of writing is a long one. Be wary of “writing rules” and advice. Do it your way."

Pls questions. I will be off any moment from now. I know we have great minds here, in case I go off, we can still tackle the questions.

SOUL'E: Thanks Mr. Bernard. That was a power packed, but simple lecture.

DHEE: Thanks for the lecture Mr. Bernard. I've been reading attentively. Agreed with all you've said too. Kudos to you.

PRESTIGE: You are welcome. I officially sign out. Thanks for having me.

Compiled by Neofloetry “ALEME”