Titling Poetry

Does the title of a poem matter?

Some poems are untitled especially many micro poem and specific genres such as Haiku and Tanka.

But what is the function of a title in a poem?

Title is usually the first introduction readers have to your poem. Therefore, if you are going to use one make it have impact. Select a title that grabs attention and makes people want to read further.

If you use a title it is a crucial part of the poem.
It can add an element to a poem that hasn’t been mentioned in the text. It might explain, add a clue, metaphorically show content or context. Or be an inducement to read further. Titles should be thought through and shouldn’t be a rehash of a line unless it really enhances the poem.
Here are some ways that titles can help readers to understand and interpret a poem:

The title can provide context for the poem. The title can give readers a clue about what to expect from the poem and whether it would speak to them. It can be a lure for what is to come. Followed by an enticing first line you hook your reader in.

The title can set the tone for the poem, indicating whether it is serious, playful, ironic, or satirical. This can help readers to interpret the poem’s overall mood and attitude.
The title can suggest the meaning of the poem, hinting at the central idea, message, or argument. This can help readers to understand the poem’s purpose and significance. Or it could be a point or idea in theme but outside the poem that adds another layer.

The title can suggest different ways to read and understand what follows. This can encourage readers to engage with the poem more deeply and to consider different perspectives and meanings.

The title can excite a readers curiosity. Imagine picking up a large book with several pages of contents which only list the poems’ titles. You don’t want to start at the beginning you want to dip into the work. Which one would you choose to read first?
Would it be the one called “Untitled”? if the poet couldn’t be bothered with a title, why should the you be drawn to it or would you be curious?
Would t you be more drawn to ones called “Water” or “Hate” probably more so?
Or might you be more interested ‘Because I couldn’t stop for Death’ or ‘The Raven’ or ‘Tangoing Goats and Somersaulting Hearts’. Ultimately that is the conundrum you have when finding a title thinking about it’s street appeal!

There can be a difficulty with one word titles they can be hard to work successfully unless the poet has chosen a word with a complex or ambigious meaning. “Nature” is too generic: is it a gentle pastoral poem or is its nature red in tooth and claw? Is it even about the natural world? If you are into romance you might go for the poem entitled “Love” but it doesn’t offer any clues, it might be love of friends or siblings when you wanted romance or it could be hard core erotica when you wanted a little steam but not explicit sex.

A good title entices a reader to read the poem. It offers a glimpse into the poem or sets up a sense of intrigue. It might evoke a mood, set up a conflict, be quirky or funny.
“Call” sounds fairly mundane but “3am Phone Call” sounds ominous – phone calls in the early hours are usually made to pass on a piece of urgent news.
A poem called “As the forest flows.” is going to spark very different thoughts from “A streak of agate agitates the forest.”
“The Raven”, suggesting melancholy and perhaps darkness, will be very different to “The Peacock” suggesting pride, beauty, colour and perhaps strident noise.

Titles can be so much more than just regurgitation if a line or phrase from within the poem.

Title First or Last?
This is personal preference some poets write a poem to an idea they have for a poem. They start with a working title then construct the poem. Others write to an idea then title the poem after completion of the poetic process.

Remember if you start with a working title it’s not a title set in stone and during the editing process it’s worth revisiting the title to see if it could be improved in the light of the finished piece.

Copyright and Titles
Titles can’t be copyrighted. So there’s nothing to stop you using a title that’s already in use. Likewise, there’s nothing to stop someone else using one of your poem titles.However, bear in mind that, two poems with the same title will draw comparisons, particularly if one is more famous. Some editors/competition administrators put poem titles into search engines to check a poem hasn’t been previously published and may not have time to check beyond the title to see if it is the same poem.

In summary, a well-chosen title can be the key that unlocks a poem’s meaning, inviting readers to explore its layers and discover hidden depths. So, next time you encounter a poem, pay attention to its title—it holds more significance than meets the eye!