How to turn prose into poetry

by George Dance

How to ...
Analyze poetry • Critique poetry Explicate a poem Scan a poem Read poetry aloud Perform poetry Become inspired Master the basics Turn prose into poetry Overcome writer's block Be a poet
How to write ...
A poem • A song A metaphor • A couplet Dark poems • Emo poetry Emotional poetry Gothic poetry Love poetry • Nature poetry Metered verse • Rhyming verse A meaningful poem Good poetry
How to write ...
Acrostic poetry • Ballads Cinquains • Concrete poetry Epic poetry  • Free verse Ghazals • Haiku • Limericks Sestinas • Sonnets • Tanka Tetactrys poetry • Tyburn poetry Villanelles
How to write for PPP
Wikia Help:Contributing Adding articles on poets Adding poems Adding external links

Turning prose into poetry can be challenging even for the poets at heart. However, it can be done , and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.

Steps

1. Understand the difference between "prose" and "poetry". "Prose" is the ordinary speech used in everyday speaking and writing: its purpose is to communicate a meaning. "Poetry is the imaginative use of language, the use of language for its aesthetic value or for purposes other than to communicate meaning. For instance, the above was written in prose -- it was written simply to communicate a rational thought -- definitions of the terms -- and all the words used were chosen with only that goal in mind.
2. Understand that poetry doesn't always rhyme or have meter or rhythm. What makes poetry poetry is its imaginative use of language. Rhyme schemes, [[Meter (poetry)|metrical rhythms are two ways to use language imaginatively; but so is the use of other sonic effects like Alliteration; the use of figures of speech like metaphor; and the use of imagery to directly appeal to the reader's imagination. For example: "The flower was beautiful" is a prose statement that communicates a thought to the reason. The flower was like a sunset in its glory is an example of poetry, because it attempts to have the reader imagine the flower's beauty. Therefore, it's poetry.
3. Find prose to turn into poetry. Write or find a few sentences or a paragraph that communicate a thought you found funny, life-changing, cheerful, deep, et cetera.
4. Find rhythm by looking at the syllables. Look at these sentences for example, as there is a rhythm in it: I was riding my bike when all of the sudden a squirrel jumped in front of me. I swerved, avoiding the squirrel, and almost crashed into someone's convertible! A man was standing there, watering his lawn with a hose, and he just burst out laughing. How embarrassing!
   • A rhythm in those sentences could be 'I was riding my bike when - all of the sudden - a squirrel jumped in front of me. - I swerved, - avoiding the squirrel, - and almost crashed into someone's convertible! - A man was standing there, - watering his lawn with a hose, - and he just burst - out laughing. - How embarrassing!'
5. Good luck! Just go with what sounds good!

External links

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