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Medium-Level Poetry Challenge:
The Conversation Poem

recommended for writers, ages 9 and up

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Hey Writers and Teachers! Here's a unique poetry idea to try out for your journal your writer's notebook that requires a writer to listen...and record.

Step #1: Record a short conversation with another person by writing it down during the conversation or after the conversation has ended; you might also have a friend listen to you having a conversation with someone else, and write it down.

Step #2: When you write out the conversation, skip lines between the snippets of dialogue as you put them down on scratch paper:

"I'm feeling a little tired tonight."
[Skipped line on paper...]
"Hard day at work?"
[Skipped line on paper...]
"I can't stand meetings. They drive me nuts."
[Skipped line on paper...]
"Call in sick next Monday. That's what I suggest."
[Skipped line on paper...]
"If only I could."
[Skipped line on paper...]
"You can."
[Skipped line on paper...]

Step #3: Then, after each line of dialogue in the area where you skipped a line, write a line of description or detail that rhymes with conversation you recorded. You can also (but don't have to) add dialogue tags (like he said or she said) to clear up confusion or improve the poem's rhythm. The end product should be a poem like this...

You say, "I'm feeling a little tired tonight."
I notice you seem wound up tight.
"Hard day," I ask, "at work?"
while thinking God, your boss is such a jerk.
"I can't stand meetings. They drive me nuts."
They bug me too, no ifs, no buts.
"Call in sick next Monday. That's what I suggest."
Your glare implies Surely, you jest,
And you say, "If only I could."
You should, my dear, if only you would.
So I mumble quietly, "You can."
And if you did, I still be your biggest fan.

Step #4: Revise your poem, tweak it, and print a final copy in your journal or your writer's notebook.

If you happen to like what you wrote doing this exercise, send it to us at publish@writingfix.com. We'll happily post inspirations below so that others can be inspired by your words and techniques.

Ideas expressed at this website are the copyrighted ideas of the webmaster and its cited contributors. Writers, students, and teachers are welcome to use any ideas found at this website free of charge, but please credit WritingFix if the ideas are being shared with a larger audience. Thank you.