After writing and revising over a hundred poems for my cruise collection, I realised I often forgot the same basic things—especially when I was close to finishing a poem. So I made this checklist to help me decide when a poem is done. Or at least ready to be read aloud or sent out.
Poetry Completion Checklist
At each revision stage, here are some of the questions I sometimes forget to ask myself—but should:
Does the poem have a single, clear central idea or theme?
Are sensory details present to help readers see, hear, and feel the poem’s world?
Is the point of view consistent? (Shifting POV can confuse, unless it’s intentional and clearly handled.)
Are the tenses consistent throughout?
Does the poem evoke the emotion I intended?
Is the structure logical and coherent?
Have I checked spelling and grammar carefully?
Are homophones and typos corrected?
Are the images and metaphors clear, vivid, and effective?
Am I showing rather than telling? (Does the poem evoke emotion through language and imagery?)
Does it still feel authentic and true to my voice?
Will the poem connect with a reader’s emotions, memories, or curiosity?
Does the poem still surprise me?
Is there a reason for the reader to care?
Is the rhythm consistent, and does the poem flow easily?
Is there any awkward phrasing?
Are there any unnecessary words or lines that don’t add anything?
Have I read it aloud to catch any clunky bits or flat patches? (Reading often reveals things I don’t see on the page.)
Is everything clear enough for a reader who isn’t me? (What’s obvious to me might not be to someone else.)
Am I revising to improve the poem or just out of habit or fear of letting it go?
That’s already a long list and there are always more questions. But after I’ve been through this process (sometimes too many times), and I think the poem might be finished, I still ask myself a few final things:
The Afterthought Stage
1) Would I be happy to perform this poem to an audience, at a reading or an open mic, or send it out to magazines?
There’s nothing worse than reading a poem you thought was brilliant and realising halfway through that it’s not working.
2) Have I revised this poem so many times that I’m now just producing another version of the same thing?
Not better, just different. Like Monet’s 25 versions of Haystacks—sometimes the changes are variations, not improvements. I’m no longer making real progress, just rearranging the same ideas.
me spot what’s missing or give me permission to stop editing and let the poem go.
Every poet needs their own process and I’ve found that having a checklist like this helps me avoid finishing too soon or revising forever. In the end, it’s about finding the balance between control and letting go. And trusting that, even if this version isn’t perfect, it’s the one ready to meet the world. My cruise poems are now ready.
Rodney Wood 