Love is universal yet its abstract as a concept because love is also very specific to each if us. It means different things to different people, we each experience it uniquely and there are different types of love at different stages of one’s life.

Anybody can pick up a pen and write a poem about love but not everybody can write a heart stirring love poem. Too many people write in generalities or cliches because they haven’t tuned in to what the essence of love means to them and what love might mean to readers.You need to set out to write authentic, universal love poetry free from clichés and eye-rolling generalities. Its helpful to see how good poets and song writers tackle love, find the poems and songs that you can identify with, that make you feel genuine emotion.

Also find those poems that make your eyes roll, which deal with love in ways that make you grind your teeth. Learn what alienates you, and file it in your “don’t write like that” folder.Never write a poem just because it’s the easiest thing to do, dashing off a greetings card type verse may be quick and easy but it’s probably not going to win hearts or prizes.

Love has always been in the air so as poets we have millions of love poems to compete with. So make sure there’s a good reason for yours to exist, a specificity to be celebrated, a unique story to tell. Love is universal, but each love is singular.Study up, be authentic, and get writing!

MaryB