There are three basic rules to writing poetry.
- Poetry has to be emotional. That doesn't mean it must to be on AFC subject like unrequited love but it has to stir emotions in the reader.
- Poetry should not be banal. A poem about simple pleasures like having beer or going to the beach is unlikely to elicit an emotional response.
- Poetry should not be simplistic. That doesn't mean that you have to write like Shakespeare, with the reader having to take a university course to try to understand what your poem is about. However, poetry is ultimately the art of using language in a beautiful way. If your poem reads like a tweet or a text to a friend, it's not a good poem.
To be a good poet, you have to be talented and, to some extent, you also have to be an emotionally troubled person. Why do you think all good musicians/performance artists are so messed up? Think of your favourite band and the lyrics to their songs. Chances are, you like their songs because they make you
feel. The mental state required to compose powerful poetry comes from a place of deep hurt, emotional trauma, and, often, substance abuse. It is rarely a product of a happy childhood, loving parents, healthy living and emotional wellbeing.