Whether you are a published poet who has hit a writing block, or a beginner wordsmith struggling to get the first lines on paper, finding inspiration for a poem can be a challenge. There are as many topics for a poem as there are things in the world, anything can be a topic for a poem, but finding the right topic that inspires you to write can be difficult. If you are stuck on ideas, we have some inspirational topics for you to write a good poem about.
Something Inane About Your Day
Ok, so it may not sound inspiring, but taking something insignificant and giving it a poetic perspective can lead to great results. You can take something simple from your day, analyze it, explore it and describe it through your poem. There have been great poems about making a cup of tea, putting on a pair of socks, and even bowel movements. By taking something inane and turning it into the subject of a poem, you can make readers stop, think and appreciate these small, daily activities and can inspire others to think small when creating their next masterpiece.
Something Ugly
If you are feeling somewhat angsty from your search for inspiration, you may want to take some of that energy and use it constructively. Taking something classically ugly, or something that annoys you, and either highlighting its hideousness or turning its ugliness into beauty, can be great topics for a poem. Perhaps look out your window, maybe there is something ugly or annoying on your street such as waste removal, or a barking dog. These annoying things may not seem to have beauty, but perhaps with your poetry, you can turn that around and think from a different perspective, find the beauty, function, purpose, or experience of this ugly thing and make it into a work of poetry.
Something Meaningful To You
As a poet and a person, you are unique. Through poetry, you can share and express your perspective about something in the world that you find meaningful. Try making a list of things that are meaningful to you, from big to small. There are the obvious ones, like family, your home, your career, etc, but try to think outside of the box, and find things that you find meaningful, but perhaps might be unfamiliar to others. It may be a sentimental gift or family heirloom, it could be a trophy or award or maybe it’s something in your routine such as your morning jog or setting up your desk to write. Exploring a topic that is meaningful to you can provide insight and perspective to your readers that they would never get unless they read your poem.
Final Verse
For the poet struggling for inspiration, it’s great to think outside of the box and draw your inspiration from the things around you in your life. A poem doesn’t always have to be about a big event or experience or some unfathomable grandiose topic, it can be about the mundane, ugly, or unique to you. If you need inspiration, we hope these tips will help you write your next poetic masterpiece.