Answer:
Look at the connotation: is the meaning of the words positive? negative? flowy? angry? sad?
Look for universal symbols: love, life, death, youth.
Look for rhyming schemes: depending on the type used, it can convey a happy, rhythmic feeling or a gloomier feeling.
Paraphrase the poem after you've finished reading it. This will help you understand.
Put notes in the margins about the literal and figurative meaning of each line.
Hope this helps, good luck!
