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TJMF Publishing - Open Mike Cafe Editor's Desk Staff Editor Patty Zion |
Pieces of a Poem, Part Four
The Title
by Patty Zion
You have chosen the perfect gift for your readers - a tightly constructed poem with a powerful opening, a consistent midsection that furthers the experience you are presenting, and a smoothly wrapped ending with an appropriate bow. Now it's time to concentrate on giving your poem a title.
You want a good title - one that will entice readers to start exploring this treasure you have created. The title is like a gift tag on the big box - a quick way of telling who the poem is written for, and why.
If you found a box under the Christmas tree with someone else's name on it, you probably would not even think of opening it. Therefore, it would be silly to label a gift with the wrong recipient's name. Likewise, a poem needs a "tag" that tells something true about the work. If it is a piece of light verse, it would not be wise to call it by a very serious name. And for a serious work, a title using word play or a pun would be inappropriate.
But carrying the idea a step further, you want the reader to identify with the title in some way. You want a title that entices, advertises, and motivates potential fans to turn the page or click on the link.
This is easier said than done, since everyone has a different outlook and interests. So the title must sit well with a variety of folks. It need not have universal appeal, but it should speak to a wide range of people. For this reason, it can be tempting to stick general, universal names on our poetry. Love. Happiness. Peace. Darkness. Grandchildren. Truth. Sorrow. Beach.
But in their attempt to say it all, these titles say nothing at all. They are vanilla.
Instead, a title needs as much concrete as the poem itself. Consider the progression of specificity in the following made-up titles.
Love Between Us
The Sparkle of Our Love
Sparks Fly Between Lovers
Blue-Eyed Sparks Fly
Of course, in each case, the meaning becomes slightly different, so each word must be carefully chosen. But more concrete choices definitely make more interesting titles.
End with the title. Often, beginning poets start with a title and build from there. In practice, it's usually easier and more effective to compose the poem and then finish by selecting a title. This gives us more information to work with - essentially, a heads-up on the poem's attitude and voice.
Lead with the title. In traditional poetry, it was a common practice to use the poem's first line as the title, too. A new twist on this approach, a trend in today's poetry, is to make the title act as the opening line of the poem. Rather than repeat the first line as the title itself, the poet only says it once. Here is one example of a title and opening line:
(title) Daddy Steered
(opening line) with one hand and ate a hamburger with the other.
Typically, the first word of the opening line is not capitalized when using this method. This technique quickly immerses the reader into the poem and adds a feeling of movement.
Avoid stealing. In this day of advertising, mottos, slogans, and catch phrases, a poet might feel tempted to adapt lots of overdone tidbits into a poem's title. One example is the slogan Got Milk, which has been rewritten into titles by the gallons. Avoid this kind of pitfall by reminding yourself that you want this poem to be original, so the title must also be original.
Likewise, steer away from the word-mode of the year. Recent examples of fad words include hunker down, global warming, wardrobe malfunction, and e-anything.
Weigh the words. Carefully consider the options for length - a one-word title, a lengthy title, or a compromise. One-word titles seem to be in vogue, but they can feel too quick, indicating laziness on the part of the poet. In particular, one-word titles without inspiration seem almost useless. If you decide to use only one word, make it a grand slam. Choose a word with depth and individuality.
Creating a longer title probably allows more room for a poet to speak, but the danger is that the reader may find a longer title cumbersome. Strangely enough, the trick, again, is to choose dynamic words that work together to entice the reader forward into the body of the poem. But several difficult or obscure words will surely turn away most readers. Keep a long title simple and down-to-earth for a wider appeal.
Another aspect of the title is its ability to tell something the poem can't quite manage to communicate. The title can drop a hint of meaning into an otherwise inaccessible poem. When you feel unsure that the poem is clear in meaning, throw a bone to the reader by giving away one more small hint in the title. By contrast, a poem with an abundance of simplicity will benefit from a title that is somewhat veiled.
In this way, the title acts like a fulcrum, balancing the entire poem with meaning, style, and mood.
Exercise:
Study these poems and their titles. Think about the poets' reasons for choosing the titles.
Facility by Robert W. Service
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
http://www.ketzle.com/frost/snowyeve.htm
Hazard by Susan McLean
http://www.mezzocammin.com/iambic.php?vol=2006&iss=2&cat=poetry&page=mclean
(Scroll down to read the poem.)
Elegy for a Lost Countryside and a Distant Brother by Anna Evans
http://www.mezzocammin.com/iambic.php?vol=2006&iss=2&cat=poetry&page=evans
(Scroll down to read the poem.)
Next, study one of your own poems and think of several alternative titles. Ask a reader to look at the titles and tell you which one is the most interesting. Based on their opinions and your view of the poem, decide which title works best.
If you'd like, you can post your poem with alternate titles in the Open Mike Cafe, asking for feedback from your fellow poets on which title they prefer.
The title of a poem sits on the outside (table of contents) or the top of the page, showing the world your personal vision of the piece of writing. Scribble something enticing on the tag and call it a wrap!
Staff Editor Patty Zion welcomes your editing questions and comments.
You may reach her by e-mail at