Poetic Form: Letter Poems
Perhaps one of the simplest poetic forms in concept, the letter poem focuses on
communicating a central, meaningful message, but also focuses on the poet’s specific
choice of line break(s). What might be considered “ordinary” letters, notes, or even
journal entries are transformed into meaningful poetic form using this format.
For your assignment, you should create two letter poems that address a real message
you wish to convey. As you create your poems, think carefully about where to end each
line, why the lines are broken as they are, and how line break affects the rhythm,
sound, meaning, and appearance of your poems.
Examples:
“Dear Grandma” as Letter and Poem
by Julie Wollman-Bonilla
Dear Grandma,
I was so young, really when you died. But I remember your sharp smell of mothballs, your teeth soaking in a cup,
while you listened to talk radio. Your quick sense of humor, your red and white picnic cloth dress. Your chicken
soup. You put in your teeth, put on your tablecloth dress, and walked me to Brigham’s for a mocha fudge cone. Your
worry, a cage I hated. Your love, a cushion I needed.
Dear Grandma
I was so young, really
When you died.
But I remember
Your sharp smell of mothballs
Your teeth soaking in a cup
While you listened to talk radio.
Your quick sense of humor
Your red and white picnic cloth dress.
Your chicken soup.
You put in your teeth
Put on your tablecloth dress
And walked me to Brigham’s
For a mocha fudge cone.
Your worry
A cage
I hated.
Your love
A cushion
I needed.
This Is Just To Say
by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold