Writing

How to Write a Great Opening Line for Poetry: Tips and Examples

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Aug 16, 2021 • 5 min read

Great poets like E. E. Cummings, Pablo Neruda, Langston Hughes, and Robert Burns may write in different poetic styles, but they all have one thing in common: the ability to write an unforgettable opening line. The opening line of a poem should grab the reader’s attention, invoke the thematic intentions of the poem, and give an insight into the poet’s writing style.