How to Write a Memorable & Forceful Poem Title (with Examples!)
We have all written the infamous “untitled” poem. As a seasoned or beginner poet, you know you are in for a rocky ride when you finish a poem you cannot think of a name for.
Why is it so hard to title a poem?
In truth, giving poems captivating and forceful titles is hard. There is so much dimension in poetry that it feels impossible to capture it all in a few words. I know from experience and conversation with fellow poets that writing the story and capturing the emotion present in good poetry is the easy part; when it comes time to title the visual and emotive piece you poured your heart into, all too frequently you come up with nothing.
What goes into an impactful and forceful poem title?
The best poem titles go beyond the obvious; they bind the following words together and add an extra layer of meaning to the poem. The title of a poem sets the stage for what is to come, so a good poem title should be dynamic, interesting, and the right length. A good poem title makes the poem irresistible.
Here I am sharing what I have learned regarding how to write a poem title, as well as several tips to help you write memorable and captivating poem titles.
How to write the right poem title
Titling a poem is not a one-step process. I often go through several potential poem titles before landing on the title that feels right.
An example of how powerful the right title can be is my haiku, Lioness. The poem was formatted and ready to publish save one small drawback. I hated the post. With a passion.
The haiku was originally titled Over Queens. I hated that the title told the story of the haiku in two words instead of (like a good poem title should) offering extra depth and layered perspective to the poem.
I brainstormed alternative titles for the haiku and came up with Kings, Nature’s Queen, Battlefield, and The Way. When I finally hit upon Lioness, I felt the meaning of the haiku take shape under its new title and it felt right. The feeling of ‘right’ is the feeling to look for when titling a poem.
To write an amazing, dynamic, and enriching poem title, here are 7 tips and ideas to get your mind on the right track. And, while this post is topically aimed at poetry, these tips work equally well for blog posts too!
Write your poem.
It is much easier to title a poem when the finished story is laid out before you. If it helps, use a placeholder title, but get your words down on paper. Once the poem is finished, look for ways the meaning of the poem can be brought out by the right title.
Brainstorm!
Write down synonyms for the strongest words and themes in your poem. Get creative and list antonyms too! Experiment with clichés, quotes, and phrases. Play with the list of words and sentences you have brainstormed and remember; juxtaposition is invaluable in a poem title as it creates space for the story to unfold into new dimensions!
Examples of how I use juxtaposition include Rapunzel Spinning, in which I merge Rapunzel with the themes present in the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin, and Somewhere on a Ranch In Japan. Ranches conjure up images of the Wild West or cattle country, not the lush landscape of Japan.
A further example of how juxtaposition can exist between the title of the poem and the poem itself is She Wore Black. The poem is about a wedding. The title, obviously, is not.
Be bold.
Make a powerful statement with your poem title, even if it goes against popular opinion. The statement should still be appropriate and always reflect the story your poem tells. For example, instead of calling this poem Assurances, I called it To Be A Lady. The former title is boring and complacent. The latter title stands firm in its conviction.
Be mindful of length!
A poem with an overly long title is hard to digest. One word can be glanced over if it is not the right word.
When titling a poem, I aim for between one compelling word that sets the feel and tone of the poem or no more than eight words strung together into a beautiful line. However, the rules of writing are meant to be broken. If the right title for your poem is fifteen words long, ignore all advice and listen to the voice of your story.
Pro Tip: as it so happens during brainstorming, you will likely come up with several amazing poem titles that do not fit the feel of the poem you are trying to title. Do not discard these poem titles! Save them for later.
Pay attention to the form.
Utilize different aspects of grammar to help your poem title stand out. Consider how using the following elements impacts the meaning of your title and the way it is read and understood.
Utilize
- upper or lowercase letters
- quotation marks
- punctuation
Trust your gut.
At the end of the day, you know your poem. Go with your instinct on a word, phrase, or line for the title of your poem.
Do not be afraid to let the story change.
The meaning of your poem can change depending on the nature of your title. When titling a poem, do not focus too much on the exact plotline of your poem. Poetry is about emotion, imagery, and potential. Let your title lay bare the meaning of your poem to the whim of the reader.
Be Wary of “Rules” when Writing a Poem Title
I lose respect for writers and editors (gasp!) that share writing rules. The experts may say that a plain title is better than a cliché’ title, but I do not agree. All writing belongs in writing and, as the title of the right poem, even a cliché can become a beautiful thing that invites thought.
By now, you might be exhausted, wondering if all poets put this much effort into titling a poem. Honestly, it sounds like a lot of work! The truth is, the more you practice titling your poems, the easier it becomes. I can title my poems in anywhere from five seconds to ten minutes, depending on the complexity and intention of the poem at hand.
Here is the amazing part: as you grow more adept at titling, your mind will begin to automatically form titles as you write. By the time you write the last line, the right poem title is fresh and ready in your mind. No additional effort required! Sounds cool, huh?
It is how you know you are a writer.
6 Examples of the Right Poem Title by Fellow Poets
Here are 6 poem titles by other writers that I love to inspire your creative juices! Notice how each poem title reflects the style and character of its writer.
The Desert INvites a journey withIN (My Inspired Life)
the fragrance delivered (jeff lesch)
The Otherworld (Experiments in Fiction)
Rose Fossil (Kaushal Kishore)
Cruel Sunsets (Gabriela Marie Milton)
The Alchemy of Fingertips (David Estringel)
Are you a title whizz or do you still struggle a little when it comes to writing compelling poem titles and blog post headlines? Tell me below!
Bacardi Gold
Thank you for sharing such helpful tips in search of titles. Mine varies which comes first. Sometimes it pops up in the middle of my writing, others in the end which take time in its selection. This is a great help.
Simplyalexjean
Such a helpful and informative post! I love how you included examples as well as your own stories of your own experiences with struggling to title poems!
wordsandcoffee1
What a helpful post! I always seem to struggle with titles.
Jewish Young Professional "JYP"
I love this post! Love the very specific, helpful advice you provided and the examples. I’ve also heard the suggestion to make your working title long, as you’ll be more likely to remember to update it to something better if it’s particularly long, clunky, and noticeable.
Jaya Avendel
Hmm, that is an interesting approach! Thank you for sharing.
Maria Khan
wonderful post!
jgarrison75
Thank you. You’re right, generally titles for poems are more difficult than the poem itself, at least in my experience. Often, I leave them untitled. I supposed I still have some work to do.
https://fromarockyhillside.com
Cindy Georgakas
Great post and so kind of you to feature some of our friends articles in your post Jaya! xo
Jenny in Neverland
This is a really helpful post! I find titles in general; poems, blog posts, newsletters, always difficult!
S.S. Mitchell
It’s not often that I write poetry but when I have, I’m definitely guilty of using the simplest one word titles. Thanks for some lovely tips on how to expand on this!
Ann Coleman
Good tips! I have always struggled with titles, (and I’m not a poet) but I especially liked your tip on not being afraid to let our story change. I have found that when I get “stuck” when I’m writing it’s because I’m not letting the writing lead where it needs to go.
Jaya Avendel
I am glad you found this so useful, Ann!
Maria Khan
Great post!
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
I read with interested.
I only tried once to write a poem.
I find it the top difficult.
Consider that too many times I am unable to be bold even for simple normal writing.
Trusting is also one of the things I cannot reach …
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!
I liked a lot the poems you suggested too.
100 Country Trek
I love this..thanks for sharing.
Laleh Chini
❤️❤️❤️
barbaraleaver
Great advice
Raji (@journeyintofantasy)
Great post Jaya! I’ve often wondered how poets come up with titles for their works, so this was a very insightful read!
Jeff Flesch
An awesome write, full of excellent advise and practical tips. I’m honored you included one of my poem titles. Thank you, Jaya!! 🤍
Ryan Biddulph
Being bold and trusting your gut both resonate with me Jaya. Being bold gives you clarity. Trusting your intuition guides you to follow the small, still voice that always knows your way, that way best benefitting all of us. Excellent tips here!
Jaya Avendel
Love the thoughts you had reading this! Thank you for sharing.
Daphny Aqua
This is very helpful Jaya, thank you so much. Sometimes I have a title in mind and I write based on it but most times I have to think for days after writing a poem to get the title most suitable for it one I am extremely happy with.
Jaya Avendel
Love that you always only stop at the ‘right title’!
Daphny Aqua
Thank you Jaya, your post will help me even more as to finding the right title. 🤗
Eugenia
This is very helpful, Jaya! Thank you.
Lamittan Minsah
Quite important tips to take into consideration, Jaya. Thanks for sharing. ❤
Infinite Living
I loved reading your post as it gave me an opportunity to go through my own process with check points and you gave words to the process with much clarity. I agree with you that a title feels right in the gut and heart when we connect to the heart and feeling of the poem. I liked being reminded that the title adds depth and often a certain flavor to the interpretation of the poem. One of my own poems came to mind where I suddenly felt, I didn’t do it right – I chose something very wordy and could have been more skilful at retaining the magic of the poem in a shorter title. I am mostly happy with my title but I know now I am not happy with this one. So good to keep learning.
Jaya Avendel
I am so happy to know that reading this took you right back to a moment where you knew you were not satisfied and gave you the nudge you needed to find the right title! Thank you so much for sharing this experience. 🤩
Michele Lee
I am most grateful to you, writer Jaya, for including one of my posts in your informative article. I am going to start calling you teacher Jaya! 😁 I enjoy the creative process of writing titles. On rare occasions I know the title before or at the beginning of writing, but usually it is the last thing I write. Your article reminded me of teaching journalism, specifically teaching and helping students write headlines. It is an art form.
Jaya Avendel
I loved that poem title of yours, Michele, and the way you used uppercase letters stuck with me! Your comparison to this as a like art form to journalism headlines is an excellent one too! 🙂
Lucia’s Fiction
Wow, awesome insights Jaya! Loved this ✨
Ingrid
A great article, Jaya! So much to think about when it comes to titles…thank you for including one of mine 😊
Jaya Avendel
Absolutely, Ingrid! 🥰