Poem generator for personal poems that sound real
Generic verses about "love that shines like stars" do not move anyone. When you want a poem for a person or a moment, this prompt has your todo.is agent use the real details you give it, pick a fitting form, and write a poem with natural rhythm that you can read aloud, print or put in a card.
The prompt
- Write a poem for [OCCASION]. It is for [WHO IT IS FOR], and here are real details to use: [PERSONAL DETAILS]. Form: [POEM FORM]. Tone: [TONE]. Use concrete images from the details, not general words like "love", "forever" and "heart" on every line. If it rhymes, keep the rhymes natural and never twist a sentence just to rhyme. Keep it to about 12 to 20 lines so it can be read aloud in under a minute. Give it a title. Then give me a second, shorter version (4 to 6 lines) for a card, and make a printable A5 PDF of the full poem with a simple, elegant layout.
What to change
- [OCCASION]: e.g. "my mom’s 60th birthday", "our 10th wedding anniversary", "my grandfather’s memorial", "a retirement".
- [WHO IT IS FOR]: Name and relationship, e.g. "my wife, Lena".
- [PERSONAL DETAILS]: 3 to 5 specifics, e.g. "we met at a bus stop in the rain, she sings while cooking, our dog Pepper, our trip to Crete".
- [POEM FORM]: "rhyming", "free verse", "sonnet", "haiku sequence", "limerick", or "you decide".
- [TONE]: e.g. "warm and a little funny", "tender", "celebratory", "gentle and comforting".
Example result
- Bus Stop, Rain
- *For Lena, ten years on*
- The number 9 was late that day,
- the shelter roof had sprung a leak,
- you shared your coat and turned to say
- "I think the bus is gone all week."
- Ten years of kitchens since that rain,
- of you off-key and stirring soup,
- of Pepper barking down the lane,
- of every plan we threw for loops.
- In Crete we missed the ferry twice
- and laughed until the sun went down.
- I learned that being lost is nice
- when you're the map, and you're the town.
- So here's to buses running late,
- to leaking roofs and borrowed sleeves.
- The best things never keep their date.
- They wait for you in falling leaves.
- Card version
- The number 9 was late that day,
- and you were standing in the rain.
- Ten years, and still I'd miss the bus
- to meet you there again.
- Notes on the poem
- • Form: four rhyming quatrains (ABAB), easy to read aloud in about 45 seconds
- • Details used: the bus stop, the rain, singing while cooking, Pepper, Crete
- • Ending: returns to the opening image, so the poem feels complete
- • Reading tip: pause after "and you're the town", it is the emotional peak
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in the occasion, the person and a few true details.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Read it out loud. Ask for changes like "less rhyme", "funnier" or "mention our kids".
- Download the PDF to print, or ask for an MP3 of the poem read aloud.
Tips for a better result
- Details make the poem. One inside joke or a real place is worth more than ten adjectives.
- Rhyme is optional. Free verse often sounds more sincere for memorials and serious moments.
- Read every line out loud. If you stumble, the rhythm is off; ask your agent to smooth that line.
- For a toast, keep it under a minute. People listen better to 12 good lines than 40 average ones.
poem generator: FAQ
- What are the most common types of poems? Free verse, rhyming quatrains, sonnets (14 lines), haiku (3 short lines), limericks (5 funny lines) and acrostics, where the first letters spell a word.
- How long should a poem for a card be? Four to eight lines fits most cards. Save the longer version for reading aloud or framing.
- Can it write a poem in another language? Yes. Ask for the language you want. Rhymes do not translate, so ask for it to be written in that language rather than translated.
- Can it make the poem into a nice printable or image? Yes. Your agent can make a PDF or a PNG card with the poem laid out, ready to print or send.
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