'Roses are red, violets are blue...'

Contrary to popular opinion, the first rule of writing love poetry is to avoid any mention of roses or violets. A fear of being laughed at is what puts most people off writing (or at least sharing) their own poetry; one whiff of cliché, and you are indeed in danger of just that. However, this shouldn't put you off the idea. After all, what could be a more personal present than an original poem? And, more importantly, what could be better suited to a student budget?

Rather than taking an insipid greetings card as your starting point, begin by picking a poetic form. You can choose anything from an ode to a limerick (although the latter isn't necessarily ideal for romantic outpourings). Even free verse is a poetic form, but if you choose this medium it's best to think out a structure for your poem in advance: be careful not to write a waffling essay turned into 'poetry' by random line breaks. Or, if you're truly stuck for inspiration, try creating an acrostic, where the first letter of each line spells out your partner's name.

It is, of course, important to be realistic about your abilities. The first poem you attempt probably won't be a literary masterpiece, worthy of the attention of GCSE English classes for years to come. Even if you are the next Carol Ann Duffy, it's always a good idea to take inspiration from other authors. You could read some of Shakespeare's sonnets before you begin. Alternatively, try Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, Lord Byron or W.H. Auden. Your debt to other poets needn't stop at mere 'inspiration', however. Take a tip from the great T.S. Eliot, who said that 'immature poets imitate; mature poets steal'.

 

Be 'mature', then, and steal. Take a favourite line from another poet as the opening line of your poem, and respond to it accordingly. Use it to create something new, whilst casually demonstrating your impressive knowledge of the English literary tradition. When you've finished a first draft of your poem, go back and cut out anything which seems superfluous or clichéd; being allusive is key to the success and longevity of many poems. Put your creation away for a couple of days, then return to it with a fresh perspective, changing anything that jumps out at you as incongruous. Finally, hand-write your poem as neatly as possible and send it to your better half, preferably accompanied by chocolate, flowers or champagne. And there you have it: one successful poem, one appreciated gift and one minimal dent in your bank balance.

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