Can A Prose Writer Write Poetry?

Our poster quote today is truly quite poetic, but coming from Carl Sandburg, one would expect that. I also saw a quote regarding poetry once that stayed with me. It was Wine is poetry in a bottle. Maybe I liked it because I also enjoy a glass of wine. 

I was thinking the other day about why we write poetry and what preparation should we give ourself to do so. I think that anyone who loves words should be able to write poetry. It's a fair guess that the vast majority of writers have an affinity for words and phrases. So, doesn't it stand to reason that any writer should be able to compose a poem? 

The keyword here is try. Many prose writers shy away from attempting to write poetry. They separate prose writers and poets into two distinct categories. I think all writers can write poetry. You're probably wondering why I think it is of importance that a prose writer attempts poetry. For one thing, it broadens your horizons. For another, writing poetry will make you a better writer of all kinds, expanding your vocabulary, learning to use metaphors and similes. adding sensory details and more. 

Writing poetry is a good practice for prose writers because they must use fewer words to get a concept or thought across. Instead of writing pages on one idea, the poet uses a handful of words. They'd better be words that convey a thought well and succinctly. The poet strives to pass on mundane words and passive verbs. He/she must do more with less than the prose writer does. Have you ever heard a prose writer criticized for being too wordy? We all have run across that situation. The poet cannot be too wordy. 

Should you read poetry in order to write it? I think it's a very smart idea to do so. The more poetry you read, the more you'll absorb how poets function. If you want to write haiku, read a plethora of them. They're really a lot of fun to compose. The same goes for narrative poems or rhyming verse or free verse. The more of the type you choose to read, the better chance you will have of writing your own in a similar vein.

The more you read poetry, the better you will appreciate it. Many poets have published short books filled with their poems. I enjoy reading them, seeing the different sides of a single poet. I've written reviews on several in the past. Take a look at an earlier post about a poetry book written by Ronda Miller.  And another about Tom Mach's So Runs the Water. Tom is also a novelist, having written a Civil War trilogy. He can write both prose and poetry, so there's no reason why you cannot do the same.

I always suggest that those new to writing poems begin with free verse. You needn't be concerned with meter or rhyme. All you need do is write from the heart. The previous sentence contains a very important point. Read it again. You'll pick up little tidbits as you progress and as you read other poets, learning where is the best place for a line break and more.

When you have a first draft, read the poem aloud. You'll easily see where you need to enhance or take away or change words. As a writing exercise try your hand at poetry. Start with something short. You might find that you enjoy writing poems. You won't know unless you try. Simply write from the heart.