Ode Journaling: Turn Attention into Gratitude
Poet Brent Hagen explains how an ode transforms focused attention into lyrical gratitude—and invites you to try Stoic’s new guided Ode Journal.
Updated on
June 27, 2025
A Form Born to Sing
It is very fitting that ode has its roots in aeidein, a Greek word that means to sing or chant. The ode is a lyric poetic form that honors a person, animal, place, idea, or thing. If a poem is a song we sing to celebrate the world, the ode is one of its most reliable instruments.
Attention Becomes Devotion
As Mary Oliver writes in Upstream, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” At its heart, an ode is all about paying close attention and highlighting the most unique, profound aspects of someone or something very important to you. It is an act of understanding their place, their importance. The ode, then, is the moment we turn our desire to express gratitude to whom and what we devote ourselves.
Anything Can Earn an Ode
Many people have written odes, and we all have more than a few in us. You can write an ode to anyone or anything—from a loved one to a favorite writer, from your pet to your favorite beach, from socks to your identity to a bicycle to tomatoes, even an ode to an ode!
A Song of Grateful Celebration
When we write an ode to a person, pet, place, or idea, we are writing a song of grateful celebration.
How about you? What song of gratitude do you want to sing, and to whom or what?
Frequently Asked Questions
“Does an ode have to follow a strict Pindaric or Horatian pattern?”
No. Those classical blueprints are inspiring but optional. Modern odes often loosen the meter and stanza scheme while keeping the spirit of praise.
“How long should my ode be?”
Long enough to spotlight what matters—anything from three short stanzas to a page. Quality of attention beats word count.
“Must an ode rhyme?”
Rhyme can heighten the musical feel, but it’s not a rule. Many contemporary odes rely on vivid imagery and rhythm instead of end-rhymes.
“Can I write an ode in free verse?”
Absolutely. Free-verse odes are common; just be sure each line still carries focused, celebratory energy toward your subject.
“How often should I practice ode journaling?”
Try one focused ode per week. That cadence keeps the exercise special while giving you time to observe and gather details worth praising.
Updated on: Jun 24, 2025
US-born teacher now rooted in Japan; distills everyday moments into razor-sharp haiku prompts, serves as the creative mind behind Stoic’s most abstract journaling exercises, and contributes to Poetry Non-Stop.
Begin Ode Journal in Stoic
Download the Stoic app to unlock Brent’s step-by-step ode prompts—turn focused attention into a lyrical celebration right on your phone.
