Tips on writing poetry?

I have this assignment where I have to draw a civil war commemorative stamp (postage stamp) and write a poem corrosponding to it.
Problem: I suck at poetry
I was going to do something about civil war photography (because my teachers made a big deal about that) so yea.
could someone give me some tips?
(and this isnt exactly soul poetry so don't tell me to write how I feel)

it was a war, use something dramatic, are you aloud to use quotes...there are a lot of good quotes from the civil war

sure, that would be great!
did you write that urself? it's very good. also inspiring, I think im getting some ideas. I like the whole idea of using the same rhyme every time. (should, holder, colder etc)

I was in the "Wisconsin Center for Academicly Talented Youth" prograhm. We where basicly wrighting peotry.

'Tis the end...
Me or him...
I'm not kill one man,
I'm killing evey man that would be born after him
The fact if I die, I'm just going to replaced by another man, as if I won't matter
Maggets feeding off the dead and the wounded
Lead is... (sorry out of ideas)

For a really good look at war, watch the movie JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, they got the eintire movie on you-tube