Tone: The Poet's Attitude

Tone is how you feel about your subject. Sincere? Ironic? Urgent? Wry? Bitter? Tone shapes reader interpretation. The same words said sincerely vs. sarcastically mean opposite things.

"I love this broken world" sounds different than "I tolerate this broken world." Different tone, same situation. Control tone through word choice, rhythm, punctuation. Harsh consonants sound angry. Soft vowels sound gentle. Fast lines feel urgent. Slow lines feel contemplative.

Read aloud. Does tone match intention? That's the final test.