How It Becomes a Poem: Part I

I've seen a plethora of artists do this, and because I was proud of (and worked exceptionally hard on) the poem "His Devotion", I wanted to share my "process". I'll most likely be moving these to scraps. P.S. I had to post this in the resources category because DA is cranky about "fweh text only fweh" for anything in the literature category. Which does make a chafing sort of sense.

How It Becomes A Poem: Part I
I usually start with one strong line or stanza that I really like, which unfortunately sets the bar for the rest of the poem at what appears to be an impossible level of achievement. Especially a sestina. As aforementioned, a sestina is far more odious than it presents itself. Really, it follows no meter or rhyme scheme, but repeats the same six final words of each line in a set pattern. Try speaking that way some time. Pick six words, and you have to end all of your sentences with just those words all day. But you have to do it in a specific order. Yeah, I rest my case.

As you can see, I start out with a ton of note-taking, mostly about the form itself, possibly punching out a stanza or a couple lines, and make some semblance of a plan as to the layout. Oh yeah, remember how I said sestinas follow no metrical pattern? I opted to go for iambic pentameter anyway. Because I'm a masochist.

Yes, sometimes writing out the iambic feet helps me think.