How do you write a good sad/depressing poem without sounding emo?

Question

the problem w/ emo poems, is that they are so rub-it-in-your-face, exaggerated depressing that they sound totally fake. how do you write something that sounds REAL?? i.e. what elements would make it that way?

the scary thing is, you can still sound emo even if all of your words are sincere.

Answer 1

when you write let your true voice come through. unless you are like, emo, then your real voice should rise above anything too depressing. if you want to sound sad and depressing, listen to music that makes you sad. be real and use your own voice. if your having trouble finding your REAL voice, try thinking about a time when you were sad. Mabey take a walk with a notebook or something, or get a recorder so you can just speek the words as they come to you. Go somewhere quiet and write down everything you come up with. There arn't really "elements" that can make a poem depressing but not emo, but as long as you don't write about graveyards and blood, you should be good.

- oh, and usualy for some reasong a poem dosen't sound so emo if it rhymes. I don't know.

Good Luck!!!

-b4_999's awnser is really good. I may have to try that.

Answer 2

What a great question and I have several suggestions. Take about a half hour and read the poetry in Yahoo! Answers. 99.9 percent of them suck. I guess I shouldn't be so harsh as 99.9 percent of the poems are submitted by pre and early teens and they're trying, sort of. Any-hoo. I've always believed that if you want to be a good poet, then read a lot of poetry. If you want to be a novelist, then read a lot of fiction. Eventually you'll find some favorites and you'll start to emulate your favorite author's style and wit. As hopefully it is just like your style and wit. Can you be a good poet without reading a lot of poetry? Well, when Fozzy Bear asked Gonzo why he was trying to break into the movie business in Muncie, Indiana instead of Hollywood, Gonzo replied, "Well sure, I'd go to Hollywood if I wanted to do it the easy way." Lastly. All too often budding authors say what they are feeling yet rarely show how they're feeling. Anyone can write, "I love you." but Romeo put it best by saying, "Did my heart love til now?" My favorite poets are Edna St. Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker and Sylvia Plath. Try doing an Internet search and see what they have to offer you. Good luck and good writing.

Answer 3

It's not as difficult as you think. Set up a scenario which illustrates sadness without actually using words like "sadness, depression, etc." For example colors often indicate mood. Light indicates joy, darkness indicates sorrow. Your poem can take place in a courtyard or a cemetery, or some other place related to sorrow. You wouldn't place your character in an amusement park or on a beach. Get the idea? Before you begin to write the actual poem, make a list or an outline. Then, go for it. Good luck.

Answer 4

I dont think its what you write that makes you seem emo. Its other peoples judgements, so even If you try not to and say something about ..being depressed for example its up to people to decide wether they think its emo or not.

Answer 5

Write about the situation.
For example if your boyfriend strayed, write about your anger instead of crying the blues. Write about his shortcomings. Write about yours. Let your reader realize you are sad for who wouldn't be if your boyfriend had strayed.

I heard a musician say that you don't have to cover the entire canvas with paint to get your point across. Let the reader have some of that space to draw the same conclusion you wanted when you sat down to write.

Answer 6

What the F is this emo crap and why?
I am so glad I am not in "this" generation!
It is so cool not to care, while you all become plastic infomercials.

Care or die- you have but one life. Being cool is for morons, living is for those who can experience joy and suffering.

Answer 7

Write exactly how you feel in your own words. Whatever words come to mind write them down Try to just say how you really feel without trying to FORCE your readers to understand your feelings and feel them too. Think of your readers as smart people who will understand you without you having to break it down for them or exaggerate for them to understand. When I have something on my mind, I've found it easy to record whatever I wanna say about how I feel on my cell phone and then I'll write it down. But hey thats just me. Do what works for you.

Answer 8

Just try not use the following words too much, or at all:

- I want to die
- I cut my wrists
- Blood dripping from my hand
- Razor
- lust for blood
- Life has no meaning

Answer 9

you can't do that unless you are emo