Hungry? Hungry for a sampling of poetry that satisfies a longing? This simple-to-implement
guide (reusable, recyclable, and reliable) is just what you need to carve a poem like a pro in a 5-star kitchen. The bird (beat) is just about ready to prep for service in poetry. It’s a blank canvas. Pick your paper. Pluck your preferred workspace. Power up your carving knife. It’s time to take what’s been baking in the oven and prepare it for friends, family, and unexpected guests. Have reading glasses handy.
Step 1. Bake the Poem
Don’t be distracted by poultry paltry poetry sentiments. It’s true that themes are often stronger
when understated. At the same time, thematic impulses bloom from unexpected spices (and
seasons). Unique blends (you don’t need a formal reason), unexpected imagery, and surprising
pairings can deepen the overall flavor of your poetic output.
Exercise your inherent creativity and experiment with back-of-the-cabinet flavorings. Dress, then
bake your poem in ways different than your mother would. Add a dash of whatever spice –
whether preposition or proposition, comes to mention. Check the oven on an irregular schedule.
The best birds poems cook on their own timer.
Step 2. Rest the Words
Once all ingredients have been applied and baked until fully cooked, remove the poem from the
oven and prepare to carve a masterpiece worth serving. Identify a desk with limited distractions
then let the poem simmer for a timeline that only you can determine. Rest is a critical pre-carving step. The process allows imagery to settle and ensures optimal impact. Timelines will vary based on size, form, and distractions.
Step 3. Time to Carve
Ready? Supplies include a sharp eye and a sharper tolerance for good-bye. Remember, there’s
nothing personal when you break off a relationship with words that add weight but not flavor or
texture. Place the poem on a cutting board and assess its overall shape before pruning words.
Remove adverbs. Cut through layers of sagging prepositions. Angle the pen towards the imagery
as you cut words.
Once you hit bone– bare themes, naked emotions, bend the poem until the joints become visible.
Check for loose words of ambiguous meaning. Slice through vague descriptions. Pull back
unclear convictions. Remove excess fat. Evaluate for appropriate layers of gravy. Trim heavy
imagery. Not all adjectives add nutrition. Not all rhymes add rhythm.
Consider deep cuts in sagging middles. Follow the arch of the line and break edges with
traditional lines. Gently pull back strings of syllables to reveal rich undertones. Repeat for each
stanza. Stretch the power of the pause. Swap synonyms. Spread paired alliteration evenly across
the body.
Step 4. Repetition in Action
Repeat at least twice– three or four repetitions preferable, time permitting. Transfer to a fresh
spiral or digital file. Review all discarded words. Consider their potential use as components of a
title or poetic broth. Otherwise, toss– do not recycle. Scents linger unless wrapped tightly in bins
of trash and words passed over.
Step 5. In Service of Poetry
Carving often significantly improves a poem’s overall depth of flavor. Serve at your desired
temperature but remember not to overlook the all-important title (in some respects the most
important garnish on the poetic platter). Explore additional sides like bold and italics. For prose
poems, consider whether a haiku add-on (a haibun is born as the poetry buffet expands) might be in order.
Once plated, be sure to share with the wider poetry community. Poetry nurtures both writers and
readers. Grab your pen and dig in! Take orders. Offer as many servings or stanzas as desired. The notebook is hungry!
Enjoy.
Jen Schneider is a community college educator who lives, works, and writes in small spaces in and around Philadelphia.