Mary Biddinger wrote her unwritten poetry rules, and then Diane Lockward posted her blog post about it to Facebook. Now, here I am feeling inspired to write up my formerly unwritten rules.

Diane’s #8 is a favorite of mine:

8. Don’t be a cornball. Get rid of the bluebird and substitute a hunk of granite.

I completely agree with #2, and it’s one of my own rules:

2. No using the f-word in a poem. Not because it’s obscene, but because it’s too easy, too overused, and too boring.

Deborah’s Unwritten Poetry Rules

1. Don’t use the f-word for reasons mentioned above.
2. Avoid titling poems “Untitled” and figure out a title.
3. Use form or not, but don’t feel guilty for not.
4. Remove the following words if they slip into the poem: white, sky, moon, light, dark.
5. Don’t mention a bird. Get specific. A heron is different from a crow.
6. Sit the poem under bright lights and make sure every word is necessary.
7. Avoid boring verbs, when possible.
8. I just can’t make ‘crazy’ lines of all different lengths. They have to be somewhat uniform, so that the overall ‘shape’ of the poem is pleasing to the eye.

What are your written or unwritten rules?