On Being a Poet

mikeschultz Sat Feb 04 2012, 17:25

A poem is real that is not unreal,
an outburst of angst or Hallmark moment,
cliché and tired from over use, fatigued
beyond imagination. Free to sleep,

but unable to do other than write
out thoughts in verse-like prose as poetry.
Would anyone choose to live otherwise?
Poetry has razed and then raised nations.

A thousand first drafts and just one poem,
countless poetic efforts, skeletal
rackings, as ice-coated branches and limbs,
breathless, an empty ribcage, now heartless.

We poets must first become nature’s scribes,
and keen observers of human nature.

Michael Schultz © January 29, 2009 (2030)

looby Tue Feb 07 2012, 07:03

i like it.
Do you think all thoughts should be logged?
I wonder if i found a note book of feelings , how many would make worthy poems?

mikeschultz Tue Feb 07 2012, 07:29

First off, thank you for reading and liking my poem. And I like that you raise some interesting points. First let me say that not everything needs recording, but that being said, our inspirations and subject can come from any point, time or place, circumstance and more. Nothing is off limits to the poet's pen. We just need to be sure that what we are about is worthy. For instance a poem of a particular set of circumstances might not be as successful as one about the underlying issues at work in the circumstances. I am a big fan of the philosophical and psychological poems as glimpses into the human psyche.

As to the notebook. Yes. You most probably would find a number of things to write about, to expand upon and compose into a poem. I have kept a daily journal for the past twelve years into which I write all my studies of poetry, all my draft starts, bits of conversation, descriptions, etc. Oh, I include the periodic outburst of emotion, good or bad, but those I use to color my writing, not to form it. And I routinely review my e-journal and my journal notebooks looking for gems in the rough.

I hope that helps.

Take care, and thanks again for reading my work.

Mike

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