You can call yourself anything you like, of course. I daresay you\u2019d take some exception to my calling myself a brain surgeon, but so long as I don\u2019t open your skull \u2014 only suggest, slyly, that I might <\/em>\u2014 who\u2019s to stop me playing pretend?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Any craft requires dedication: effort, practice, a willingness to learn from one\u2019s mistakes (God save us, each and all, from dilettantish brain surgeons!) Humility, if you will. It is a long way from, \u201cI have an interest in neuroscience and anatomy,\u201d to \u201cDo you trust me to use a saw to open your skull, and probe your gray matter with a knife?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You may laugh and think me mean to suggest that one or two seventeen-syllable verses does not a \u201cpoet\u201d make, but rather, a dabbler <\/em>in poetry. There is nothing wrong with dabbling in poetry, or writing, or art, or photography, or music, or dance! There would be no poets, no writers, no great masters of the arts, and no ballet without there first being dabblers<\/em>. Don\u2019t look to knock me off my pedestal \u2014 I am a dabbler, too.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Not when it comes to some forms of writing. When you have spent the better part of forty years practicing and being paid well to do a thing, perhaps then you can be forgiven for claiming, \u201cI am a writer.\u201d Because by then, it really is a core part of your identity, and it has kept a roof over your head and played some part in providing food for your family\u2019s table. But there is no shame in being \u201can engineer and mother who dabbles in writing,\u201d or a \u201cretired schoolteacher and grandmother who dabbles in poetry.\u201d There is no shame in that at all.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But there is a question:<\/strong> Do you want to be a poet? By that, I mean, do you want to put \u201cPoet\u201d after your name? Do you dream of overhearing someone say, \u201cOh, the poet?\u201d when your name is mentioned in conversation? Could you see it written on your tombstone? If the answer is \u201cyes,\u201d then you must also cry out, \u201cYES!\u201d when asked, \u201cAre you enthusiastically willing to do the work?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If not, then look elsewhere for your vocations - I crochet, as a hobby, but I don\u2019t have this kind of dedication to fiber arts. I don\u2019t even have an Etsy shop. I have barely made one sweater than kinda-sorta fits. Don\u2019t puff out your chest and proclaim, \u201cI am a poet!\u201d merely because you are able to count out seventeen syllables to write Haiku.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Poets who are truly dedicated <\/em>to Haiku will not take offense; there is an art<\/em> to Haiku, and some have devoted lifetimes to mastering this single form of poetry. When people lay wreathes on your grave, more than 200 years after you are gone, because your poetry is as enduring as that of Yosa Buson<\/a>, you will have \u201cmade it\u201d as a poet and a writer of Haiku.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Are you bothered by what I\u2019m saying? Or are you energized \u2014 challenged \u2014 eager to learn, practice, and maybe move from dabbler to poet? Are you undaunted?<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Good<\/strong>. Because this challenge is for you<\/strong>, the nascent poet \u2014 the dabbler, the enthusiast, the playful poetential <\/em>poet. Let the others spend their effort and energy on writing me hate mail \u2014 you <\/strong>come and take my challenge:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Go learn more about the various forms and terms of art that poets use. You will find the most common, useful, and important ones here, at Poetry Foundation, and bookmark this page<\/em> \u2014 you\u2019ll be returning to it many times:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Glossary of Poetic Terms | Poetry Foundation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whether you aspire to be a poet or just enjoy reading and listening to poetry, go listen to A. Z. Foreman read poetry, old and new, in its original languages, dialects, and accents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Shakespeare's Sonnets, Table of Contents | A.Z. Foreman on Patreon<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Follow A. Z. Foreman (@azforeman) on counter.social<\/a> and subscribe to A. Z. Foreman<\/a> on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rhyming verse seems to be losing popularity, if you judge by the submissions guidelines of many contemporary journals. For decades, it has been derided as doggerel or greeting-card verse. But is<\/em> it? I ran an informal poll on several sites, about a year ago, and among readers who bothered to respond, it was the resounding favorite<\/em>. If you enjoy rhyme, then by all means write rhyming verse!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n That said, I\u2019d avoid sing-songy, simplistic rhyming verse unless writing specifically for children. But there are many traditional types of formal verse that require rhyme - explore them. Try them on for fit. Sometimes, the restrictions of form, meter, and rhyme force your brain to work harder as you strive to think creatively within a strict framework.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Buy or bookmark a rhyming dictionary or two. This is a special sort of dictionary that categorizes words by the sound of their endings, and the number of syllables in the word. A few examples:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n RhymeZone rhyming dictionary and thesaurus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Rhymes * Rhyming Dictionary | Rhymer.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n WordHippo!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you prefer print, I highly recommend The Complete Rhyming Dictionary: Including The Poet\u2019s Craft Book, by Clement Wood<\/a>. I have a very old and tattered edition \u2014 this one is updated and expanded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another thing to avoid is \u201cslant rhymes\u201d \u2014 words that don\u2019t quite<\/em> rhyme \u2014 especially when it\u2019s obvious that you\u2019ve given up and resorted to forcing the words to fit a particular rhyme scheme. Now and then, you can make a close-but-not-quite rhyme work, but more often than not, it\u2019s the hallmark of an amateur who isn\u2019t trying hard enough. It feels like cheating. Consider different word choices, but if you must reach for the rhyme, see if you can do it without it being jarring to the reader\u2019s ear. Read:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rhymes That Don't Quite Rhyme<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n LitCharts<\/a> - <\/strong>What is slant rhyme?<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some people are blessed with an innate sense of rhythm. Some of us had to endure hours of remedial rhythm training and still struggle to clap on the downbeat at rock concerts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When I was very little, my parents enrolled me in ballet lessons. I imagine they hoped it would make me more graceful; I hoped it would lead to pointe shoes and sequined tutus and the ability to fly. Neither of these things happened. Instead, we discovered that I had no natural rhythm. For this crime, I was sentenced to hours of listening to \u201cBaby, Take a Bow<\/a>,\u201d and instructed to look into a mirror while clapping on the downbeat. It did not cure me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Meter in poetry is nothing more than the natural rhythms of language - the pattern of stressed (accented) and unstressed (unaccented) syllables in the words we choose. Any good dictionary can confirm for you the proper pronunciation of a word and on which syllable the downbeat, or accent, is placed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But beware of rigid adherence to \u201crules.\u201d Conversation does not strictly<\/em> follow any particular \u201cbeat.\u201d It is said that Shakespeare wrote much of his work, including sonnets and plays, in iambic pentameter because it closely mimics the patterns of English speech. And that\u2019s true, but had he doggedly stuck to iambic pentameter, without any variation, his work would quickly lull us to sleep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But there is an art to dancing with words. And, now and then, there\u2019s an art to knowing when to do it with your two left feet tied together. Linguistics and Music Theory can only take you so far; at some point, you also<\/em> have to trust your intuition. Just remember that when weaving a dream, you want to avoid putting the dreamer into a dreamless sleep or startling the dreamer awake.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Read:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Mary Oliver on the Mystery of the Human Psyche, the Secret of Great Poetry, and How Rhythm Makes Us Come Alive \u2013 The Marginalian<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Pattern and Variation - Purdue OWL\u00ae - Purdue University<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Pattern - Purdue OWL\u00ae - Purdue University<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Variation - Purdue OWL\u00ae - Purdue University<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Metre (poetry) - Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For the real challenge, now: Go back to the link in the #1, and beginning from A \u2014 Abecedarian \u2014 and devote one day to each term. Write a poem<\/strong> that demonstrates it and your understanding of it. Work at it until it \u201cclicks.\u201d Some will be much easier than others. Cover two in a day, if you like. Keep a journal or a blog, and keep notes on what you learned, how difficult it was, and what insights you gained from the exercise. Not all of the terms listed here are forms \u2014 on the days when you run across a term like \u201crhyme\u201d or \u201cmeter,\u201d simply write a poem that relies on rhyme, or meter, and discuss that in your journal entry. There are 275 terms listed at Poetry Foundation<\/a>. This means you can take most weekends off, if you like, and still finish in a year. Or take your time. There is absolutely no rush at all.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Bonus challenge:<\/strong> Commit to submitting your poem to a poetry journal or other publication within the month, or to gathering enough of your own poems to publish a chapbook within the year. If you don\u2019t know where to start, sign up for an account at Submittable<\/a>, go to the Discover<\/a> tab, and search for calls for poetry<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n If you take on this challenge<\/em>, no one dare raise an eyebrow if you call yourself \u201cPoet.\u201d I cannot guarantee that a year\u2019s daily practice will make you a \u201cgreat <\/em>poet.\u201d It probably won\u2019t. It certainly hasn\u2019t made me one - yet. But you can puff out your chest and proudly declare that you are a \u201cpoet,\u201d and I will nod and say, \u201cYes, absolutely <\/em>\u2014 now, keep at it, because the day we stop learning and growing, we can call ourselves dead poets<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Amazon links (amzn.to, when you hover over them), added for your convenience, are affiliate links. If you buy using them, I may earn a few pennies and it will not cost you extra. But as always, you have choices, and if you choose not to use my links, I\u2019d urge you to support your local brick and mortar, independent bookstores.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Holly Jahangiri<\/a> is VP and Program Chair at Poets Northwest<\/a>, which meets in Houston, TX. Her poetry appears online and in print. Holly is the author of Trockle; A Puppy, Not a Guppy; and A New Leaf for Lyle<\/a>. She draws inspiration from her family, from her own childhood adventures (some of which only happened in her overactive imagination), and from readers both young and young at heart. <\/em><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A challenge, a dare \u2014 a call to dedicated writing and commitment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137989108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_has_post_settings":[],"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"hashtags":[],"class_list":["post-95467642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 16:20:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95467642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95467642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95467642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137989109,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95467642\/revisions\/137989109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137989108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95467642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95467642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95467642"},{"taxonomy":"hashtags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtags?post=95467642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Dabblers<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Become A Poet<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Learn About Forms & Terms of Art<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Develop an Ear for Rhyme, Rhythm, and Language<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Listen to Poetry Read Aloud<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Rhyming Verse: In or Out?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Rhythm or Meter<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Poetry is a Thing You DO<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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