As a follow-up to my previous post which proved popular (5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Write a Poem), I thought I’d share five simple questions to ask yourself after you’ve written your poem. So, here are at least five things to consider when you think you’ve finished writing a poem. I say ‘at least’ because it will depend on your situation, how long you’ve been writing, and whether you already have a process in place for finishing a poem. But, as a general rule, these are the five questions I’ll ask myself at the end of writing a poem. 

1. Have I checked for spelling, punctuation and grammar?

This might seem simple but it’s really important. If you’re sending your poem out for publication, the first thing that will deter an editor will be simple, easily correctable mistakes. These kind of mistakes signpost to the editor that:

• A) you haven’t read over your poem carefully, so why should they?

• B) you’re not bothered about the details, and what is poetry but detailed attention to language?

• C) you don’t respect the time of the editor/reader.

This might seem harsh but it’s just the reality of it. If you really care about your writing, and really want to get it published, then you must check for these things before you submit. 

2. Does it have a good title?

How important are titles to you? Think of the title of a poem as an opportunity to:

a) catch the attention of the reader

b) point to the essence of your poem, without giving too much away

c) add another dimension to your poem. The title does not simply have to be a few words dangling over your poem - but a way for you to add some twist or turn to how the poem might be read. 

There is so much to be done with a title, so be imaginative with it and think of it as a bonus line in your poem.

3. Is the first line surprising/ interesting/ attention grabbing/ engaging?

The first line of your poem is so important. Why should the reader put up with your poem if the first line is dreary? In short, they shouldn’t. There are so many other poems to read and demands on the reader’s time - you haven’t got time to waste. Don’t expect the reader to stay with you and wade through countless lines where nothing happens only to get your finely polished last line. Every line should be finely polished and as interesting as the last. Ezra Pound said ‘Make it new’ and I would add to that: make it not boring. And where better to start that than the first line. 

4. Does the poem take the reader down an interesting path?

So, you’ve got a great title and a belter of a first line - shall we just leave it there? Nice try. The poem has got to take twists and turns. There are so many metaphors to employ here, but, having been at the swimming pool with my children recently, I’ll opt for it being something like going down a waterslide, being plunged into the dark, going this way and that, at speed only to be dumped, unceremoniously into daylight and water, and then want to climb the stairs and start again. 

5. Does the ending leave the reader with a lasting image?

Does the ending do the rest of your poem justice? You want to avoid a damp squib situation, unless that is part of the plan. Generally speaking, I tend to find that poem endings fall into five categories. Some of these might blur into each other, but I thought I’d boil them down for the sake of argument:

• The climax: Cue the snigger from the back of the classroom. This is where the poem has a kind of sense of ascendency or transcendent ending.

• The epiphany: It might be a bit climactic, but doesn’t always have to be. It marks itself out by revealing something wise or true in a sudden moment of realisation.

• The dying fall: The clue is in the name with this one - it often revolves around the death of something or the passing of time, for example. It’s not unusual for this kind of ending to end with at least one unstressed syllable. 

• The punchline: Akin to a joke or finale of a stand-up comedy routine this kind of ending might be humorous, or major on surprising the reader with an in-yer-face remark. 

• The elliptical: This kind of ending often centres around the writer presenting the reader with an image and leaving them to piece the poem together. 

I’m not setting these out so that you can pick one before you’ve even started writing and work towards it. I think that endings can comprise more than just one of the above, and sometimes, maybe even a little bit of all of them. But, the next time you read a poem think about how the poet has ended it and into which category you might place it. Being conscious of how you end your own poems also helps you avoid  repeating certain styles and potentially becoming a parody of yourself. But, more importantly it allows you to see what is possible at the end of a poem and how you can play around with the ways in which your poem bids farewell to the reader. 

Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, you shouldn’t think you’re finished just yet, as at this point it’s best to share it with someone else/take it to a workshop and get the feedback from your peers. Writing a poem isn’t easy, and nor should it be. The art of writing poetry is difficult and can take many, many years to perfect (in fact, some would argue you never really perfect it) but with perseverance, and adherence to these simple questions you will definitely be on the right track.