In fact, layering multiple types of imagery into one poem usually stands out as the best poetic approach.
But evoking sound, smell, taste, and touch can have just as powerful of an effect. Oftentimes, visual images come to mind most readily while writing poetry. Make these five strategies your starting point. However, the art of building imagery into your work can be broken down into just a few steps, most of which involve being deeply observant and unafraid of unique, playful language. Defined as “using vivid or figurative language to represent ideas, objects, or actions” by the Poetry Foundation, imagery can be necessary to fully transport your reader-but it can also seem confusing or difficult to incorporate.
