Gothic Poetry

How to write gothic poetry

Gothic poetry is dark and emotional. Here's how to write gothic poetry for beginners. Start with a topic. For example, choose either "death" or "pain," or anything that is about the “night” or a “dream”. The poem cannot rhyme at all. Also, it should contain the words "darkness," "torment," "black," and "soul" at least once. Make some random line breaks. This is called "free verse." This step serves many purposes, including making the poem seem longer and making your ideas more abstract.

Here’s an example of gothic poetry:

Dream Nocturne - by Orsino

Words sent drifting skyward

On invisible smoke of searching,

To honor yesterday and tomorrow

Which happen and never happen,

Even in the sky.

Guard against possibility

Yet full of every possibility

When given to that moment

Slipping easily past the pillow Into the black forest of sleep.

I kiss lips I have not known,

Touch hands I have not seen,

Or have known and seen, many times,

In the perfect imperfection of dreams.

I know what is real when I emerge

From the dreamscape.

I know it in the rain and the steam.

But I close my eyes, and smile,

And hope to surrender again.

About the writer, Orsino:

By day Orsino labors in the corporate fields, working amid the invisible vines of the web vineyard. By night he seeks creative engagement of a decidedly darker nature, including gothic poetry. He has penned many RPG books on vampires, dragons, ghosts and other mystical beings. Here’s a sample of one of his vampire RPG book.

For more information on what is gothic, read “Step-by-Step Essential Guide to that Elusive Gothic Look & Style”.