Lipogram

A lipogram is a constrained poem or written work that deliberately omits one or more letters. The poet chooses a forbidden letter, then writes without using it. A common challenge is to write without the letter e, because e is the most common letter in English. The harder the missing letter is to avoid, the stronger the constraint becomes.

A lipogram often includes careful word choice, unusual phrasing, substitution, compression, and hidden effort. The poem may sound simple, but the difficulty lies beneath the surface. A lipogram may be serious, comic, descriptive, narrative, spiritual, or experimental.

To write a lipogram, choose the forbidden letter first. Then draft a poem without using that letter anywhere. Check every word carefully, including the title. Revise awkward lines so the poem still sounds intentional. Do not let the missing letter become the only point. The poem should still carry image, emotion, or meaning.

No Letter E

A soft dawn lifts
and gold spills
across a small hill.

Birds call.
Clouds drift.
Cold grass holds
last night’s rain.

I walk slowly,
glad for sky,
warm sun,
and God.

“No Letter E” follows the lipogram constraint by avoiding the letter e throughout the poem, including the title. The poem uses simple words and short lines because the missing letter removes many common choices. The constraint creates a plain, quiet style.

A stricter lipogram may omit a common letter such as e, a, or t. A looser version may omit a rare letter such as z or q. A WoPoLian variation may forbid all vowels except one, forbid the letters in a name, or remove a letter connected to the poem’s subject. The poet may break the rule once for emphasis, but the break should be deliberate and explained. Lipogram is a traditional constraint form, not an author-created WoPoLi form.