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Basic rules of poetry

The following indications could be obvious for many people. But we want to share them anyway, because there are a lot of people who do not know the basic rules of poetry.

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To write in verses: Verse is a basic and fundamental unit for a poem. It is obious that we need to cut text in verses. It is the first difference beetween poetry and prose. But you can't use "random verses". You need to choose when e where to finish a verse. Factors like writing style and the structures you prefer can influence the poem structure.
Metric:it is composed by the set of rules you follow to write a poem. Metric can change and evolve into a personal style: in this situation, we talk about "free metric". For example, if you write a sonetto, it is necessary to divide text in a specific number of triplets and quatrains.
Language: This is a very important point which many people does not know. To write poems does not to compose poems with the common language. One of the most important differences beetween poetry and prose is the presence of a "different speech", for example with the use of figures of speech or rhymes. As we have already said, starting new verses randomly is not enough to define your text as poetry.
Grammar: About previous point, remember that the excess of "poetry license" is dangerous for your poems. Remember that the grammar rules are important for the poetry, non only for the prose. So, you have to avoid to alterate words and verbs: this is not useful for your text and don not think to write good poems in this way!
Punctuation: The use of punctuation is essential. It is very easy to change totally the rhytm or the force of a verse simply by change the punctuation. It is a very powerful weapon for the comunication, but it can be also lethal if used in the wrong way: use it carefully.
Ispiration: Write poems only if you feel inspired and remember to look for a situation or place which gives you ispiration. Remember: poetry is humilty and sensibility. Do not write poems with a pc in order to "save time": real poets write in the traditional way, living every word on the paper!

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