60+ Great Poetry Writing Ideas

Here you will find a collection of poetry writing ideas that help writers to kickstart their poetry writing efforts. 

Poetry writing sparks creativity, stretches the imagination, encourages self-expression, helps to release internalized emotions, and stimulates the mind. 

What’s more, writing poetry improves writing skills and is enjoyable.

It’s no wonder individuals are excited to dive into poetry writing. 

The issue, however, is generating good ideas to jumpstart the process. It can be frustrating starting from a blank slate. 

That’s where these helpful poetry writing ideas come in. 

These writing ideas for poetry take some of the burden off so that you can start exploring poetry sooner rather than later. 

For whatever purpose you need them, here you will find a variety of fun poetry writing ideas and exercises that engage the imagination plus one’s knowledge from different angles.

Poetry Writing Ideas

Following you will find a variety of ideas for poems that encourage creative writing.

1. Write a poem about the past, present, and future.

2. Write a poem about the daytime.

3. Write a poem about curiosity.

4. Use the following words in a poem: emotion, red, anger, calm, peace

5. Write a poem from the perspective of a giant sea turtle living in an aquarium.

6. Write a poem about a childhood game.

7. Write a poem about a color without actually naming the color.

8. Compose an acrostic poem. 

9. Write a poem about beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

10. Write a poem about your local community.

11. Write a haiku about melting snow.

12. Write a poem about your country.

13. Write a poem about eating something disgusting. 

14. Compose a poem that has an idiom.

15. Write a poem about an old photograph.

16. Write a poem from the perspective of an indoor house plant.

17. Write a poem about a country you visited.

18. Write a poem about the ocean.

19. Write a poem about learning how to swim.

20. Compose a sonnet. 

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50+ Poetry Writing Prompts

21. Write a poem about camping under the stars.

22. Write a poem about a strange dream.

23. Write a poem about an emotion such as rage, happiness, envy, confidence, etc.

24. Write a haiku about a famous person. 

25. Write a poem about your favorite season. 

26. Write a poem about visiting a zoo.

27. Write a poem about a smell such as a spice, perfume, burning food, etc.

28. Write a haiku about a sunset. 

29. Write a poem about feeling turbulence on an airplane. 

30. Write a poem about raindrops.

poetry writing ideas

31. Compose a limerick.

32. Write a poem about a distinct taste.

33. Write a poem that includes at least three onomatopoeias.

34. Write a poem about a disastrous birthday.

35. Write a poem about being a kid.

36. Write a poem about dancing. 

37. Use the following words in a poem: green, plant, nature, waterfall, flowers

38. Write a poem about facing fears. 

39. Write a poem from the perspective of a 100-year-old person.

40. Write a poem about an ice cube. 

41. Compose a poem that rhymes.

42. Write a haiku about something related to the weather.

43. Write a poem about the moon. 

44. Write a poem about something you consider unusual.

45. Write a poem about monotony. 

46. Write a poem from the viewpoint of an animal living in the zoo.

47. Write a poem about trash. 

Poetry Writing Ideas Using the Five Senses

Taste

  • Write a poem about popcorn. 
  • Write a poem about the taste of sour milk. 
  • Write a poem about an avocado.
  • Write a poem about the taste of water.

Touch

  • Write a poem about cotton.
  • Write a poem about silky hair.
  • Write a poem about a baby’s smooth skin. 
  • Write a poem about how words touch someone’s heart.

Smell

  • Write a poem about bad breath.
  • Write a poem about passing gas.
  • Write a poem about the smell of freshly-cut grass.
  • Write a poem about the aroma of freshly-baked bread.

Sight

  • Write a poem about a skyscraper.
  • Write a poem about the moon in the night sky.
  • Write a poem about the vastness of the ocean.
  • Write a poem about a beautiful waterfall. 

Sound

  • Write a poem about a balloon popping.
  • Write a poem about an airplane flying overhead.
  • Write a poem about a fireworks display.
  • Write a poem about a teapot whistling.

Final Thoughts

Express thoughts and emotions using delightful poetry writing ideas for individuals of all ages. 

These ideas will make a great addition to your resource of writing activities. 

For more poetry writing ideas, get inspiration from this list of entertaining poetry books.