Welcome to 2009! Whether you're back at work or still on holiday we've got loads of goodies to help keep you feeling the summer love! Click here for a taste of what we've got...
Roses are red, Violets are blue, If your poem sucks like this, He might think you do to.
Welcome to your first lesson in romantic poetry and letter writing. Come this big V Day make your partner swoon with your soppy words of appraisal and love. Whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a poet or words come about as naturally as a cow walking on water, read on for tips and ideas to unlock your inner creative genius (and his inner marshmallow).
The Poem First things first, you need to get inspired. Poems are born from what you see around you so think about the love you have with this person and go from there. Things to get you started could be what you love about him or what he’s done for you.
Read and listen to poetry to really get down with the dealio and help you pick up on different styles and approaches – it’s the only way to learn so a bit of study might come in handy first.
A poem can stem from a simple idea or a line that comes out of nowhere so once you’ve found that muse think about where you want the poem to go and what exactly you want to achieve with it – do you want to impress your partner? Want them to understand what they’ve done for you and how they’ve helped you? Or maybe make him realise how much he means to you?
From here you need to decide what type of poem you want to write – haiku or sonnet, acrostic or cinquain – so many choices. Alternatively you could throw it all in and go free verse. If you choose to go by a structure don’t let it confine you too much – you don’t need to edit as you go. Just get it all on paper and strengthen up your writing later. This way you’re more likely to find your own true inner voice and no ideas are lost.
As you write, read your poem out loud and see how it sounds. It is important to the overall flow of the poem to maintain a sense of rhythm and this can be better identified by reading it aloud.
Love is an abstract concept and so enhance the impact of your poem by using concrete imagery. It is hard to write an interesting poem using only abstract notions and by replacing these ideas with things you can appreciate with your senses, your poem will be more effective.
The use of poetic devices will also enhance your poem – but don’t over do it. Rhyme is the most obvious one here but also think about using alliteration, assonance, metaphors and similes – it’s Fifth Form English all over again.
After a bit of an edit and tidy up, get some outside opinions on your piece (if it’s not too embarrassing) because it’s hard to critique your own work. From here the only thing left to do is to turn your man to mush with your romantic words and new found talent.
The Letter Before you write your love letter you need to get yourself in the zone. Think ambience – quiet room, soft music and dimmed lights. Soon you’ll be in a full swing romantic mood - and ready to put it all down on paper.
This letter is going to be a keepsake so make sure you date it (day, month, year). It’s one of those things that will be treasured and looked over again and again.
Use an endearing greeting to set the tone right from the start. Don’t be too formal. Use your love’s first name or even a special pet name you may have given them and add in adjectives e.g. My darling Matt or My dearest Bob.
Start by telling your loved one your reasons for writing. For example the sleepless nights you’ve spent trying to find the words to describe how you feel or how you cannot rest until you are sure they understand the depth of your love for them etc. Cheesy examples but you get the deal.
By the end of writing this poem you will be cheesed out anyway – it’s unavoidable. Be sure not to belittle yourself in this opening statement by saying things such as "you must think I’m crazy” or “I know you probably don’t feel the same”. Such a lack of confidence will make the letter fall flat - this is not a time to be timid.
In the body of the letter you could cover things such as when you first fell in love with them, how your life has changed for the better, little things that set them apart and little things they have done for you. You could explain how complete they make you feel, what you have in common and any other things that are important to the two of you. Chuck in some quotes of favourite authors or poets as appropriate for extra brownie points - they’ll appreciate the effort you went to find the verse and it will increase the sentimental value.
End the letter in an upbeat and positive way and if possible link it back to your opening. For example if you went with the sleepless nights thing you could say: Now that I have told you I can rest again and as I dream, I will dream of you. Dream of me too my love. Forever yours, [inset name here]. This is a bit OTT so come up with something that will suit you.
For a special touch of class put some rose petals or flowers in the envelope. It may seem a little girly but oh-so-romantic at the same time.
Whether a letter or poem, surprise your love this Valentine's Day with the beauty of words rather than some mamby pamby gift. At the end of the day it’s about expressing your love for that person so once you tap into those feelings, writing a romantic passage should be easy.
.jpg)
The Poem
Love is an abstract concept and so enhance the impact of your poem by using concrete imagery. It is hard to write an interesting poem using only abstract notions and by replacing these ideas with things you can appreciate with your senses, your poem will be more effective.
Use an endearing greeting to set the tone right from the start. Don’t be too formal. Use your love’s first name or even a special pet name you may have given them and add in adjectives e.g. My darling Matt or My dearest Bob.
End the letter in an upbeat and positive way and if possible link it back to your opening. For example if you went with the sleepless nights thing you could say: Now that I have told you I can rest again and as I dream, I will dream of you. Dream of me too my love. Forever yours, [inset name here]. This is a bit OTT so come up with something that will suit you.