Understanding Object Poems: 4 Tips for Writing Object Poetry

Object poems are a form of poetry that use items as their subject matter. This can include everyday objects like toothpaste, unusual or strange things, or special objects, like a golden ring or things with sentimental value. Any inanimate object can be the subject of an object poem—a cotton ball, a rusty chain, a sunset, or even ice-cream. Object poems focus on a singular thing, exploring it physically and objectively for the reader.

There are many famous examples of poems throughout history that focus on objects or things:

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams: The poem centers around the objective representation of the titular object.
• “Fork” by Charles Simic: The poem goes into detail about the look and function of a fork utensil.
• “To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: This short poem poses questions to the moon in the night sky.
• “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats: Written as a letter to an ancient piece of pottery, this poem expresses awe in its display and eternalism.
  
• Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein: Tender Buttons is a book of object poems.

When writing poetry about objects, the following tips can help:

1. 1. Use vivid descriptions. Write down any physical characteristics of the object you want to write a poem about first. Use sensory details. Note the object’s shape, smell, color, size, and texture with single words or phrases—any kind of detail that stands out to you. Include other descriptions that were not noticeable when observing the object the first time. Think about how the object looks in the light or in the darkness. Do external factors affect how it looks and smells? Does it remain in stasis despite all else?
2. 2. Get creative. Object poems are about things and can be abstract, but you can use literary devices like personification to relate the object more closely to the reader. The more ways you can describe your object, the more material you will have to work off of when crafting your poem.
3. 3. Describe the environment. Where is this object found? Is it in its natural place or does it belong elsewhere? Write how it behaves, what it interacts with, and if there are any objects like it around. Where an object originates from or where it is can greatly influence how readers perceive it, so this will come in handy when detailing your narrative. Use this information to set the stage for how your readers view your object, weaving in select details to bring the whole scene to the forefront.
4. 4. Try different structures. Object poems don’t have a particular format or rhyme scheme. They can be multiple stanzas or be a short poem like a haiku or limerick. They can be structured using couplets, or they can utilize blank verse, free verse, or iambic pentameter—as long as there is an object being described that can form emotional, symbolic, or vivid connections between the poem and the reader. You can change up the order of the description, make the last line the first line, or incorporate a riddle into the poem where the reader is unaware of what object is being described until the end.

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