A Semi-coherent Essay in/on Poetry
Writing poetry is an odd business.
Let no one tell you that
you can not write, for it is not so.
However, you may not be able
to write great poetry &emdash;
your imagery may be disjoint,
your mood uneven or ineffective
und so weiter.
But the purpose of poetry
is not to be (good).
It is to express some sort of
Want, need, desire, emotion (see Feeling)
or mental state. Yet poetry
writing is also for getting
something off of your chest
no matter how big or small it is.
In fact, the major purpose of writing
verse is to make yourself feel
(better) This means that the
(best) time to compose is when
you are mentally undone.
I mean, Stephen Crane could not
have been balanced when he wrote poetry;
Edgar Allen Poe definitely wasn't.
You may not become a Dante,
a Spencer or a Shakespeare
and you may confine your writings
to obscure walls.
But just remember &emdash;
poetry is for your own sake,
your own purposes,
your own peace of mind.
Care not for others' opinions,
I don't
Poetry, especially yours,
need not be written
well or good
just to please others.
It is yours to treasure.
Remember and live.
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Copyright © 1998 John B Cooke IV
House o' Poetry
Jack'n'Jim World