Writing exercise from “Martha” by Lucia Perillo
There it is right below us, so why not try to use the basic structure as a jumping point for a poem of your own? Use an interesting fact about an animal, such facts can be found here and here and here amongst a million other, likely better resources. Animal Planet, and National Geographic Channel often have really interesting animal stuff, take an hour out of your day and do some “research” for a poem. Learn a little. Find a fact that can be used as a metaphor for a relationship. Begin the poem with a scientific sounding statement of that fact, be as specific as is feasible. Consider that metaphor in the terms of three other animals/earthy examples, then finally relate it to the relationship. Explain it as simply and quickly as you can, no more than two lines. Then move immediately (no dawdling, because dawdling is not trusting your reader is overwriting is weakening your poem) onto a recent event from the character’s relationship. Be it first or third person. (Second… well, if you want, but be wary of the 
second person.) This event should expand the metaphor with a brief narrative. Move on to three things that once were, be it in the relationship, or before the relationship, depending on the lean you take (I love love! or One is the loneliest number, or any shades of tangerine in between) . Then take that metaphor to its end, as in, if the metaphor is about the negatives of dependency, then seperate (break up, walk away etc) If it’s about animals migrating to a beautiful, far away breeding place, clear the hill and see the valley (This can be about happiness, a monumental event like marriage, erotica, plenty of room to make like a penguin, spread your wings and walk around.)
If this is seen separate from the poem, here it is: Lucia Perillo’s Martha