Ode to Originality: A Guide to Writing a Poem
By Jenna Birdwell
The greats of poetry have paved the way for other writing styles, such as music lyrics, monologues, and epic poems that have been turned into major performances. With the number of words in the world’s dictionaries, the possibility of creating a fantastic poem is endless.
One of the most popular poems written are odes, which focus on the appreciation and dedication of a mundane thing. In terms of beginner friendly poetry, odes are often the best type of poems to write because they can be about anything that have meaning to you. Like all styles of writing, there are technical terms to follow so the first step to any good poem is having an idea.
Tip #1- Brainstorm
The definition of “ode” is, “something that shows respect for or celebrates the worth or influence of another.” So, to begin the cogitative stage, have a vision in your mind, whether it be a cotton candy sunset or a candle with wax dripping over the side of a bottle, and start picking apart the visual elements of that thing. For the sake of the teaching process, the example I am choosing is a pearl necklace with a gold chain. When looking at the necklace these arbitrary words arise: delicate, iridescent, frosted, ocean, jewel, precious, spherical, braided, intricate, and ornament. Jotting down any words that remind you of your topic will help with the overall creation of your ode. Like any good essay or piece of writing, a first draft is always the best way to plan your work, even for something as short and sweet as a poem.
Tip #2- Structural Elements to an Ode
Now that you have some words that remind you of your topic, it is time to understand the different structural elements to writing an ode. There are three types: Pindaric, Horatian, and irregular odes. Pindaric odes share rhythmic similarities typically until the last few lines of the poem; Pindar, a lyrical poet from Greece, had his odes used in performances of song and dance. Horatian odes are named for the Roman poet Horace and are much more meditative, therefore have more traditional stanzas. Lastly, are irregular odes which are like Pindaric and Horatian in terms of structure, but they are more liberal, so creativity can truly unravel. Quatrains, which are four-line stanzas, are used in traditional odes (Pindaric and Horatian).
Even while certain odes aren't regular, the most idiomatic way to phrase an ode is to follow a stanza pattern with four lines in each stanza. Another tip is to be precise about your line lengths if you choose to follow the traditional structure of an ode.
The fourth line of a Pindaric ode is usually shorter than the rest of the quatrain and the third line of Horatian odes is usually shorter than the rest of the quatrain. You can write an irregular ode with greater freedom, but an ode with a loose structure is more akin to neighboring poetic forms, like the elegy, or a poem of serious reflection.
Tip #3- Having Confidence in Your Writing Process
By now, the words have begun to flow; maybe they are complex, or maybe they are simple. Even if you have a more colloquial vocabulary, poetry will always be a personal form of self-expression that can never be “wrong.” These steps to writing an ode are just suggestions because it is impossible to control originality. The most important step to writing any poem, not just odes, is to focus on something meaningful to you for the best poetical outcome.
T.S. Elliot, a poet from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, once said, “genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood,” and this is a helpful reminder that your poem doesn’t have to be perfect to be appreciated, for the emotion will do all the work for you.
These are my most important takeaways from this whole guide to writing an Ode, or really, any poem.
Do not erase or scribble out ideas from your paper out of frustration; those ideas can almost always be turned into either another poem or will help you with an idea for another stanza. Do not write to appease expectations. Write for the ear and your heart.
After you have written your first poem, I encourage you to read some of the famous poets in history and see what other styles of writing you enjoy. If writing in a daily journal is something you do for yourself, maybe start adding some poems here and there because poetry enhances a more introspective part of your brain.
The greatest poets have hundreds and thousands of pieces of writing in their anthology, but this shouldn’t be a reason to feel unmotivated because all a poem needs are an idea and then the words will easily follow that.
