On Writing Poetry

On the subject of writing poetry
I know quite a lot and nothing
because its in the tides which flow
and in the winds that blow,
hidden in the silent spaces,
traced on the troubled faces.

Tangible yet not,
more than just a thought.
Words which intertwine
somewhere in your mind,
but is it poetry?
What for you or for me;
this is the dichotomy.

Can I press you to the wall,
and get the words to fall
in a phrase which enthralls?
Or can the line be bland
and still the mind expand?
Can you write without a plan?

To take one's heart and tear it,
and on the paper wear it
without fear of inspection
or concern for rejection:
ah, there is the poet
who is one, and knows it.

Finer, clearer minds than mine
have poetry defined.
I find – the more I live,
the less I have to give,
the more I can receive
of other's poetry.

Write on, my poet friend –
it's your heart in the end
which will give you direction,
if not your reader's affection.

Review/Comments from Dan Sturn
Armorbearer,

I love your comparison of Poetry to nature . . . . and how you can know a lot and nothing about Poetry all at the same time. Yes, Poetry does ride on the tides which flow. It comes down in rain at times, and when we experience a drought all we need to do is go to writing.com and read another person's Poetry. Your Poem helped me realize something: Poetry is an ACT, not an art.

I love your line, "Can you write without a plan?" Maybe that is what separates Poetry from other forms of writing. Though I use a "process" called Journatation (usually), I rarely have a plan, much less an outline, for my Poetry; whereas everything else I write MUST follow a carefully designed plan. Even a letter, even if written with a "stream of consciousness" method, requires a plan (write the letter, print it, mail it.)

But a Poem, all I need to do is listen . . . . And I love the way you end this Poem: "it's your hear in the end which will give you direction." Exactly!

Dan Sturn