How to Evaluate Your Poem

“Do I shake the stuffing out of this poem, or just let it go…” Is it any good?

Acclaimed poet and teacher Jack Ridl says others often ask him, “Is my poem any good?”  He answers “It’s likely we all worry about that, or at least worry about embarrassing ourselves with what we’ve written. I like to ask my poems if they are effective. Then I ask ‘effective in what way/s?'”

Useful questions to ask your poem:

Jack offers some other (“more useful?”) questions to ask of your poem. Not all questions,...