How do I write essays about unseen poems?

A handy acronym to help you remember how to write about unseen poems is SLIME. This stands for Structure, Language, Imagery, Meaning, and Effect. When you read through the poem, you should make notes on parts of it that relate to each of these areas — maybe you can highlight them in different colours. Then, when you are planning your answer, you can make sure to include a few points (maybe two or three) on each of those elements. You could also use them to structure your answer, with a short paragraph on each. Make sure not just to point out things about the poem — although it's great if you can identify how the poem is put together (structure) and what techniques the poet is using (language) — but also say what effect those have.