Write an original poem about [SUBJECT OR MOMENT]. The emotional movement should go from [OPENING FEELING] to [ENDING FEELING]. Use the speaker and point of view described here: [SPEAKER OR VOICE]. Build the poem around these concrete details: [IMAGES, SOUNDS, OR OBJECTS]. Write in [FORM AND LENGTH]. Aim for a poem that earns its feeling through image, action, rhythm, and implication. Let the opening establish a physical scene quickly; let each stanza add pressure, contrast, or a new angle; let the ending alter our understanding without explaining the lesson. Use specific nouns and active verbs. Let sound support meaning through line breaks, repetition, consonance, or sentence pace where appropriate. Avoid stock poetic shorthand such as “broken heart,” “dancing shadows,” “whispering wind,” “ocean of tears,” or abstract declarations that are not grounded in an observed detail. Do not imitate a living poet or reproduce recognizable lines, phrases, or a copyrighted poem. If a required input is missing, ask up to 3 clarifying questions before writing. Output only: - A title, unless I say “untitled.” - The finished poem in the requested form and length. - A brief craft note of 80 words or fewer naming the central image, the turn, and one revision choice I could test. Before finalizing, check that every metaphor is anchored in the scene and that the ending does not merely restate the opening emotion. Also check the requested form: if I requested rhyme, meter, a sonnet, a villanelle, or a haiku, identify any line that fails its governing rule.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [SUBJECT OR MOMENT] | Name the experience, scene, person, or event the poem should explore. | A daughter clearing out her late father's garage on the first warm day of spring |
| [OPENING FEELING] | Describe the emotional temperature at the beginning of the poem. | reluctant and numb |
| [ENDING FEELING] | Describe the changed feeling or realization the ending should reach. | quietly connected, but not neatly healed |
| [SPEAKER OR VOICE] | Specify who is speaking and the qualities of their voice. | first-person adult daughter; restrained, observant, slightly dry |
| [IMAGES, SOUNDS, OR OBJECTS] | List three to six sensory details or objects that must appear naturally. | a coffee tin of screws, motor oil, a cracked radio playing baseball, pollen on a workbench |
| [FORM AND LENGTH] | State the desired poetic form and approximate length. | free verse, 24 to 32 lines in four short stanzas |
How to use
- Choose details you have actually seen or heard; they give the poem a body.
- State the form precisely if it matters, such as “Petrarchan sonnet” or “12 unrhymed tercets.”
- Read the draft aloud and mark lines where the syntax or sound makes you stumble without purpose.
- Follow up with: “Give me three replacement options for the three most abstract lines, keeping the speaker’s restraint.”
Variations
Sonnet draft
Use this when you want a disciplined 14-line poem with a clear volta.
Write a Petrarchan sonnet about [SUBJECT] in a [SPEAKER] voice. Use the octave to establish [CONFLICT OR IMAGE] and turn at line 9 toward [SHIFT]. Include [TWO CONCRETE DETAILS]. Aim for an ABBAABBA octave and a coherent sestet rhyme pattern; do not force awkward diction for rhyme. Output the 14-line poem and a 60-word note identifying the volta. Before finalizing, count the lines and flag any rhyme or meter that sounds forced rather than natural.
Workshop revision
Use this when you already have a draft and need targeted revisions rather than a replacement.
Help revise this poem: [POEM DRAFT]. My intention is [INTENTION], and the lines I am least sure about are [CONCERNS]. First give a diagnostic: identify the poem’s strongest image, where the energy drops, abstractions that need embodiment, and any cliché or predictable turn. Then provide a revised version that preserves the speaker, core images, and approximate length. Do not add biographical facts. End with three optional line-level alternatives. Check that your revision changes craft choices rather than simply adding ornate language.
Performance poem
Use this when the poem is meant to be spoken aloud to a live audience.
Write a performance poem about [TOPIC] for [AUDIENCE], lasting about [LENGTH]. The speaker’s stance is [STANCE], and these lived details must guide it: [DETAILS]. Create a clear opening hook, escalating sections, deliberate repetition, and a final line that can land in a room. Mark only purposeful pauses with slashes; avoid filler applause cues and slogans. Do not invent personal experience beyond the details supplied. Before answering, read for breath length and make sure repeated phrases gain meaning each time.
Tips
- Start with a small, knowable scene rather than an abstract theme; “the laundry room after a hospital visit” gives the draft something to discover.
- If you request a traditional form, verify its rules separately: a model may produce a poem that sounds sonnet-like while missing meter, rhyme, or the turn.
- Ask for alternatives to a few weak lines instead of asking for a wholesale rewrite; this protects the imagery and voice that are yours.
- Read every generated line aloud and remove language you would never say or observe; poetry’s false notes are often audible before they are visible.
FAQ
Can AI write in the style of a poet I admire?
Ask for transferable craft traits, such as spare diction, compressed imagery, or a conversational cadence, rather than imitation of a living poet. Supply your own scene and voice.
How do I avoid cliché in an AI-generated poem?
Provide sensory details and ban generic emotional shorthand. Then ask the model to identify abstractions and replace only those that are not earned by the scene.
Can AI help revise a poem I wrote?
Yes. Tell it what must remain unchanged, ask for a diagnostic first, and choose revisions selectively so the poem keeps your intent and voice.