AI Ode Poem Generator: How to Write an Ode Poem About Anything

Poem generators provide a quick way to bring your imagination to life. They are the perfect tools if you don’t know how to structure Odes, or are pressed for time or both. No matter the purpose of your poem there are many generators to choose from..

In this article, we will show you how best to write odes about any subject. But first, let's talk about the characteristics of Odes.

What Is an Ode?

An ode is a lyrical poem. It is usually structured elaborately, with the purpose of giving "praise". You can evoke strong emotions in your audience by highlighting all the features that make your subject special.

One of the most famous ones was written by John Keats in 1819. Titled "An ode to a Grecian urn”. More than two hundred years later, this ode still has the ability to grip readers with every word, and stir emotions with every verse.

Characteristics of an Ode

An ode may be gently humorous or serious, accompanied by music or not. But it is first a thoughtful way to express your sentiments (praise) with words that rhyme.

You can easily identify an Ode with these characteristics:

It is the longest lyric form: Of all lyric poems, sonnets, tankas elegies etc… Odes are the longest. It usually has at least 5 stanzas.
It is written in dedication to a person, thing, or event: The nature of an ode is to praise. It does not passively observe. It praises a subject or person by describing all their finest features.
It is written to, not written about: An ode confidently addresses its subject. It is more like a letter rather than an ordinary essay.
It is often emotionally intense: Greek odes were performed with music. Their writers invested a lot of time weaving the words with genuine admiration, not just observations.
It always expresses majestic and noble sentiments: Horace’s Odes are a fine example. He highlighted class, rank and birth in his descriptions.
It has a formal tone: Odes are often written in solemn and serious tones. Pindaric odes especially stick to one structure. Pindar, who many might consider the father of Odes, stuck to formal subjects, celebrating victories of the Olympic, Nemean, and Pythian games.

How Long Is an Ode?

An Ode usually contains between three to five stanzas. And each stanza has ten lines. But sometimes the structure might vary from this basic structure, depending on the taste and style of the poet. This is often the case with irregular Odes.

Below are examples of popular Odes and their length & structure:

Ode to a nightingale by John Keats –8 stanzas, 10 lines.
Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats –5 stanzas, 10 lines.
Ode to the west wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley –5 parts, 5 stanzas each, 3 lines.
Ode on intimations of immortality from recollections of early childhood by Williams Wordsworth –11 stanzas of varying lengths, 206 lines.

Types of Odes

There are three main types of odes with different origins and structures. They are listed below:

Pindaric Ode

In ancient Greece, Pindaric Odes were performed for audiences with dancers and a chorus. This type of Ode is named after Pindar, a lyrical poet in Ancient Greece. It contains a strophe, an antistrophe, and an ephod. Pindaric odes are often majestic and bold.

Examples include: The Bard by Thomas Gray, and Dejection: An Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

This is what a Pindaric Ode looks like. An excerpt from Dejection: An Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Well! If the Bard was weather-wise, who made

The grand old ballad of Sir Patrick Spence,

This night, so tranquil now, will not go hence

Unroused by winds, that ply a busier trade

Than those which mould yon cloud in lazy flakes,

Or the dull sobbing draft, that moans and rakes

Upon the strings of this Æolian lute,

Which better far were mute."

Sapphic Ode

The sapphic stanza is attributed to the poet Sapho from Greece, in 6 BC. It comprises a four-line stanza of varying numbers. A sapphic stanza is created with the Greek language in mind, so it might be more difficult for an English reader to understand it. When written in English, writers use stressed and unstressed syllables.

There are some contemporary sapphic poems though. Notable ones like: Sapphics for patience by Annie Finch, Dusk: July by Marilyn Hacker, and Buzzing affy by Adam Lowe.

An example of a sapphic poem written in English is this excerpt from The Craftsman:

"Once, after long-drawn revel at The Mermaid,

He to the overbearing Boanerges

Jonson, uttered (if half of it were liquor,

Blessed be the vintage!)

Saying how, at an alehouse under Cotswold,

He had made sure of his very Cleopatra,

Drunk with enormous, salvation-contemning

Love for a tinker."

Rudyard Kipling

Horatian or Irregular Odes

The Horatian Ode was developed as a deliberate echo of the lyrical poetry of Greek originals. But unlike the pindaric Ode, it was not made for public performance. It was designed for small group recitations and even personal reading.

The Horatian ode was named after the famous poet Horace.

His first collection covered a range of subjects including love, friendship, wine, morality, and patriotism. These Odes are considered by English-speaking scholars as pure literary works.

Horatian Odes are intimate and reflective. These are some Odes created with the Horatian style:

Ode to the confederate dead by Allen Tate,
Ode to Solitude by Alexander Pope,
Ode To Duty by Williams Wordsworth.

This is what a Horatian Ode looks like. An excerpt from Ode To Duty by Williams Wordsworth:

"Stern Daughter of the Voice of God!

O Duty! if that name thou love

Who art a light to guide, a rod

To check the erring, and reprove;

Thou, who art victory and law

When empty terrors overawe;

From vain temptations dost set free;

And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity!"

When to Use Odes

It is just right to add here that an Ode can be the perfect Valentine's gift. An ode is a great way to celebrate someone or something you love. It does not cost much but still requires your time and heart to perfect.

You can also write an Ode as a creative essay to publish and show your craft.

Check out this step-by-step guide on how to use an AI generator to write your own country song.

How to write an ode poem (step-by-step guide)

The following are four easy steps you can use to write your own ode:

Choose a Subject for your ode

Brainstorm possible subjects for your Ode. If you are aiming at humor, use an everyday object. But if you want to evoke strong emotions, choose something or someone you are passionate about.

Write a comprehensive description of your object. To help you spur your creativity, you can place an image of the object in front of you, or you can do that mentally

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Choose Ode Poem Format & Structure

Different odes have different structures and formats.

Choose your preferred structure, based on the effect you want to achieve.

Use a Pindaric structure for formality, the Horatic form for intimacy and the irregular form for freedom.

Write your ode

Use the following steps to create a poetic masterpiece:

Introduce your subject
Give your subject praise/thanks.
Address your subject directly and employ adjectives in your sentences.
Bring your words to life with verbs, use repeated lines for emphasis.
Express your strongest feelings for your subject and why, use short striking lines.
For structure, each stanza should contain 10 lines.

Revise and edit

When you’re finished with your piece, take some time away from it.

And then as with any piece of writing, proofread it for grammatical and formatting mistakes.

One tip to improve your editing is to read/sing it out loud to correct awkward phrases.

How to write an Ode Poem: Template & Worksheet

To: –-----------------------

(Add topic)

(Describe your subject using a comparative [make a comparison with its kind])

(Describe using a simile [make vivid comparison with something of a different kind])

(Describe using a metaphor [Comparisons between things that are otherwise unrelated; As brave as a lion, Drowning in work])

(Describe using a personification [attribute to something human/vise versa; Lightning danced across the sky, the sun smiled down at us])

Oh, –---------------------- How I adore you.

(Add subject name)

Below is an example of what your Ode might turn out after using this worksheet. Picking the first object that comes to mind, I will write an Ode to my hair brush.

"To My hair brush,

You come most handy for brisk grooming,

Bristles, soft to the touch,

A pacifier to my scalp,

Each stroke illuminating every strand of hair,

Oh Hair brush, how I adore you."

If you noticed, I used an everyday object, and this gave the verse a tinge of humor. Praising regular objects is an effective way to write hilarious Odes..

What is the Ode Poem Generator?

To create an Ode quickly, you can use an Ode poem generator. Although using softwares will not let you exercise your creativity, they do not hamper it either. You can always edit the generated Ode to suit your subject's personality.

Ode poem generators also help you save time and churn out as many poems as possible in a few minutes.

Once you've become familiar with writing odes, why not challenge yourself to write a sonnet? With the help of an AI sonnet generator, you can create a beautiful poem about any topic, from love to nature to politics.

How to use an ode poem generator?

Most AI poem generators are simple to use.

You will receive a prompt to fill in dialog boxes with simple information about your object.

Upon filling these boxes, your poem will be generated as soon as you hit the Submit button.

Check out this guide on how to use an AI bio generator to write the perfect bio.

Ode Poem Examples

Famous Odes

Ode To A Nightingale by John Keats

Ode On A Grecian Urn by John Keats

Ode On Melancholy by John Keats

Ode On intimations of Immortality From Early Recollections Of Childhood by Williams Wordsworth

Ode To The West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley