What does it take to become a better or great Poet???

What is important to becoming a better poet or perhaps even, great poet? What do you need to write great poetry? What are your opinions, ideas, as to what makes a great poet and as to what might make one a better one???

I think this varies from writer to writer, as there can be many different types of great poetry.
In my opinion, I think a good poem shows a persons feelings and thoughts, to me in a way that they can only interpretate to gain the full meaning and understanding.
That's what I believe my poetry does, as I think that no one will understand to the ful consent what I am after I have written a piece.
To become a great poet, you just to experiment with different themes and thoughts, that what I've done and I have now seen that I'm capable of writing many other poems with different meanings.

Take care xx

I to think Bob is right. You do need to enhance your vocabulary. I think you also need to put everything into your poetry and not write because other people tell you to. Thats what happens in school a lot.

Write what you feel, when you feel it. That way the poem is fresh and it relfects exactly what your feeling or thinking. Thats what I do and a couple of my poems are going to be published in a group poetry book. Can you guess which ones? ^_0

Poetry should also have great flow to it. When some one reads a poem, they should be able to hear the words in their mind, melding together and creating something similar to a song.

First of all, Bob is right, you have to study the craft, perhaps get yourself a book on writing poetry and its different styles and forms. Reads some of the poets who have established themselves and see what you can take from their work, style, to improve yours. Expanding your vocabulary will help your writing to evolve. It would behoove any poet looking to become a better writer to improve his or hers English & Grammar, Writing & Composition Skills, for the better handle you have on the medium you use to communicate, the medium, language, in which you write, the easier it is to do so. Improving you skills as a writer, your skills in the usage of language, in the structuring of thoughts and sentences, and in your ability to put words together and use those words effectively will show in your poetry and will positively impact your ability to write better poems. The greater your understanding of writing, in general, and of the poetry genre and the greater your knowledge of great writing and what it is to write well - i.e. by reading those who have written well and do write well - the greater your chances for improvement!!! Remember also, that evolution takes time, so continue to write and write and write, while consistently learning and seeking to get better and you will!!!

Experience, mastery of a different number of styles, uniqueness. But as Bob said, you probably will not recognised until after your death.

I personally have always keyed in on Rhythm, Rhyme, and Flow. I believe having these three elements contribute greatly to a poems overall appeal and help to make for a well structured piece.

1. A poem should flow naturally - be flowing and easy reading

2. It should have rhythmic symmetry – there should be a correspondence of rhythm within the poem

3. Effective rhyming add to overall beauty and quality of poem – finding the correct corresponding rhyme makes for a better poem

The number one Key to writing poetry is how it’s constructed, structured, and how that structure lends itself to the appeal of a poem when being read!!!

Learn some of the technicaln aspects of writing better poetry;

Writing Poetry: A Beginner’s Guide
http://teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa041403a.htm