How to Write a Poem

26 Replies

How to Write a Poem

Only a fool waits for a poem to come to him.
You have to call for it like a proper blind date,
knocking on its door
and seeing beauty in whatever opens it.

Take it dancing.
Twirl it around the floor,
letting words fly off in all directions.

Leave what flutters off alone.
Someone else will pick it up
and dance with it.
No word is a wallflower,
although some are chosen more frequently to dance.
Those are the words to avoid.
 
Do not always choose the prettiest words.
In the dance of the poem,
the ugliest of words acquire a charm.

Do not insist that you yourself lead.
Let the poem, instead, draw you
off the dance floor,
out the door
and down the path
to deep woods
where all the wild words live.

Gather them in bouquets
or weave them into chains
to crown your head––
that head of the poet
who follows where the poems go
and collects them by armfuls to share with the world.

Our Day 4 NaPoWriMo assignment was to write a poem in the form of a prompt.

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

26 thoughts on “How to Write a Poem”

  7. judyreeveswriter

    Dance (write poetry) as if nobody’s watching! Thanks for this fun invitation to dance/write/poem some words. Happy NaPoWrMo

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  13. mentalnotes1

    “to deep woods
    where all the wild words live”

    Lovely poem, I let the poem lead me, when I am finished it makes no sense but sounds so beautifully poetic. My mood guides my pencil, I love writing with a pencil because I can hear the led on the paper and it cheers on the words.

    Beautiful description on how to write a poem ❤

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