A lot of things have been done in the name of poetic license. Wars, religious upheaval, plagues, love, destiny, loud noises...wait, that's religion. Scratch that. But poetic license is used a lot, just not for such disturbing reasons. Well, maybe for love, but that rarely turns out the way you expect. With or without poetry.

Take something normal, something standard, something every day and mundane. Then shove it through a funhouse mirror kicking and screaming until you have a deformed bizarro creation. Then superglue a "poetic license" sticker to it. Otherwise the Guardians of Poetry (otherwise known as tapirs) will descend upon you and steal all your valuables.

...The last few sentences may or may not be true. *keeps a wary lookout for kleptomaniac tapirs* But poetic license is indeed an unusual concept that shouldn't be called upon as often as it is, as with most things in life. The question is, when to use it and when not to use it?

Just slapping a poetic license label on anything doesn't make it so. That'd be like me slapping "this is a fish" on watermelons in a grocery store. The sticker won't make the watermelon sprout gills, a tail, and a need for water all of a sudden. If such a thing did happen, I'd need to have a talk with that sticker maker.

I tend to use the poetic license tag when I'm taking a concept, creation, or character that I know isn't mine and am using that borrowed bit for my own maniacal machiniations. I try not to do it too often, and if I inadvertently snag someone else's creation, well that's just my own ignorance not some poetic license.

To take an everyday concept and mold it towards your diabolical machinations through poetry takes a bit of brainpower and skill. You shouldn't overexert yourself by doing it too often. So when you do use it, make it count. If poetic license helps expand on the overall theme or topic I'm trying to convey, then I'll slip it in there. Otherwise I try to hold off. If not, things just get ridiculous. And not a good ridiculous, more of a *headdesk* type of ridiculous. And desks hurt.

What forms of poetic license you do enjoy using in your writing? Are there times you absolutely won't use poetic license? Any times when you absolutely will?