The Perfect Valentine's Day Poem

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

It's Valentine's Day

And a boring gift won't do!

It's Valentine's Day; the day of love and it's not too late to do something special for that someone special in your life. Here's how you can write your very own love poem in no time at all!

People get nervous about writing poetry, especially love poetry because they are afraid it won't be good or the person won't like it. Others have trouble because they just don't know where to begin or how to put what they are feeling into words.

If you're having trouble knowing how to start with your love poem, remember this: You don't want to just tell someone you love them. You want them to feel it in their hearts, in their souls, in their bones. This is where that whole "show, not tell" writing rule comes into play.

Begin with some brainstorming. Ask yourself this:

1. Who is your poem for?

2. Why are they special to you?

3. What are your favorite memories of this person?

4. When did you first meet?

5. Where did you first meet?

6. What is your favorite memory together?

7. What is your happiest memory together?

Now that you have something to go on, think more about the person you are writing the poem for. What comes to mind when you think of this person? Close your eyes. What do you see?

* If you had to name a scent to describe this person, what would it be?
* If you had to name a color to describe them, what would it be?
* If your loved one was an animal, what animal would they be?

You may not actually use these lines in your poem but they get you thinking outside the ordinary and in the poetic direction. Don't worry so much right now about rhyming or even about a rhythm. Just think about what you want to say.

Complete the sentences below for some possible starters:

Your eyes remind me of...

When I'm with you I feel...

My heart beats because you...

Your skin feels like...

My fondest memory is...

Your smile makes me think of...

When I gaze into your eyes...

When I spend time with you...

We can't all be Elizabeth Barrett Browning but that doesn't mean you can't use your own poem to show your loved one how much they mean to you on this special day.