Clichés have a way of sneaking into our language and thoughts, and in poems, they can sometimes feel like a safe but perhaps predictable harbor. But what if we deliberately choose to challenge these clichés and take them to places where they aren’t expected? Here are some thoughts on using and redefining clichés in your poems.
1. Conscious use of clichés:
Using clichés consciously can be a powerful tool. It instantly creates a connection with the reader through the familiarity clichés bring. Try introducing a cliché and then subverting expectations.
2. Unconventional metaphors:
A cliché is often a simplified metaphor. Challenge the predictable by creating unconventional metaphors. How can you describe love, sorrow, or happiness in a way that surprises and evokes new images?
3. Cliché breaks:
Break the cliché by using it in a context where it doesn’t belong. Perhaps use business jargon to describe natural phenomena or vice versa. This creates contrast and prompts contemplation.
4. Irony and humor:
Use clichés with a dose of irony or humor. This might involve taking an overly used phrase and twisting it in a way that generates laughter or at least a smile.
5. Changing context:
Shift a cliché from its usual context to something entirely different. How would a love cliché sound if it played out in space or underwater? Replace the familiar with the unexpected.
6. Cliché collage:
Create a collage of clichés to build something new. Use fragments of clichés to construct an entirely new image or feeling. This provides a sense of familiarity while introducing something unique.
7. Language innovation:
Redefine words or create new terms to replace clichés. This gives you the opportunity to craft an entirely new sense around a familiar concept.
My own examples:
Here are two micropoems that I wrote , where I tried to take a cliché and twist in in an unexpected way:
Learn from experience
You learn from experience they said, as I watched your back when you walked away.
What doesn’t kill you
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So how much will it take, before the final drop of strenght is drawn from my blood, before my bones turn soft, and I’m actually dead?
Feel free to share your thoughts on these poems in the comments!
Closing thoughts:
Challenging clichés in poetry is an exercise in creativity and self-expression. By deliberately choosing to either use or break expected phrases, you can create poems that both surprise and resonate. Remember, it’s your unique voice and perspective that will turn even the most clichéd words into something truly special. Be bold, be creative, and challenge expectations in your next poem!
Here, you can read more about what cliches to avoid.
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