This document provides guidance on how to write an explication of a poem. It explains that an explication involves a close reading and analysis of how all elements of a poem, including diction, structure, imagery and form, work together to create meaning. It recommends beginning by discussing the overall themes and structure of the poem before analyzing individual lines and elements. The explication should show how smaller parts relate to each other and the whole poem to formulate a thesis about what the poem is communicating and how.