For Writing and Reciting, a Few Basic Tips

There is no single "right" way to compose a poem, but here are tips from U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic:

· Don't tell the readers what they already know about life.

· Don't assume you're the only one in the world who suffers.

· Some of the greatest poems in the language are sonnets and poems not many lines longer than that, so don't overwrite.

· The use of images, similes and metaphors make poems concise. Close your eyes, and let your imagination tell you what to do.

· Say the words you are writing aloud and let your ear decide what word comes next.