Concrete Poetry: Where Writing & Art Merge

Writers always look for ways to push boundaries, combining forms and experimenting with genres. Concrete poetry—also known as shape or visual poetry—offers a unique way to blend literary meaning with artistic form.

In this guide, we’ll explore the history, characteristics, and process of writing concrete poems to inspire your creative practice.

What is Concrete Poetry?

Concrete poetry focuses not just on the words but also on their visual arrangement on the page. This genre elevates the design of the text, where the shape becomes as important as the words themselves. For example, a concrete poem about a tree might take on the form of a tree, inviting readers to interpret the visual form alongside the written message.

While it may feel like a modern innovation, concrete poetry has ancient roots—early examples can be traced back to Greek poetry.

Characteristics of Concrete Poetry

Writers interested in concrete poetry need to embrace its defining elements:

Shape-Driven Meaning: The poem’s words visually represent the subject or theme.
Free Verse Structure: Concrete poems usually abandon rhyme and meter, allowing the form to dictate the flow of words. Free verse is a style of writing that easily accommodates shape.
Typography as Art: Fonts, word placement, and spacing become integral parts of the poem’s message.

The creative challenge lies in ensuring the form doesn’t overpower the meaning. The ideal balance is when the shape and words complement each other, creating a seamless reading and viewing experience.

Famous Concrete Poetry Examples

1. Easter Wings by George Herbert

This 17th-century religious poem forms two wings, symbolizing human sin and redemption. The arrangement of longer and shorter lines adds layers of meaning by visually depicting spiritual highs and lows.

2. The Mouse’s Tale by Lewis Carroll

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Carroll’s poem takes the shape of a winding tail, adding humor and playfulness by merging the story with its format.

3. Sonnet in the Shape of a Potted Christmas Tree by George Starbuck

This modern sonnet example emphasizes form and content, shaping the text into a potted Christmas tree to amplify the festive message.

How to Write a Concrete Poem

Whether you’re an established poet or just starting, experimenting with concrete poetry can unlock new creative avenues. It challenges the notion that poetry is just about words—sometimes, **silence, space, and visual elements** are just as powerful.

Choose a theme or subject that lends itself to a shape (e.g., a star, an animal, or an emotion).
Sketch the desired shape or outline. This outline will guide the layout of your poem.
Draft your poem, focusing on both meaning and placement.
Adjust spacing, fonts, and line breaks to align the poem with your envisioned shape.

For inspiration, free yourself from traditional poetic structures. Since concrete poems often use free verse, you don’t have to worry about rhyme or meter interfering with the visual elements.

Conclusion

Concrete poetry is more than words on a page—it’s where literature meets art, creating a fusion of meaning and design. For writers, it’s an opportunity to experiment, break the rules, and explore the possibilities of poetic expression. Whether you’re crafting your first shape poem or revisiting familiar themes in a new way, concrete poetry is an exciting path to creative discovery.

Have you created a concrete poem? Submit it to From Whispers to Roars for consideration.