I’m glad you found it funny and true – that’s exactly what I wanted the reader to feel. Thank you for saying so!
Poetry / Advice to Poets
Don’t drive a car. Dreaming up a poem
is not compatible with judging
distances and steering straight.
Live as long as you can. But think
about dying, the dark mystery
of death will add depth to your poems.
Don’t make decisions. Rethink
all the time – you, more than most, should
know we are all flotsam on a great river.
Don’t disengage. Live usefully,
greet your neighbour, be warm to those
you write about – they are your readers.
Don’t fall in love with the Muse, it’ll only
create trouble. Write about happiness –
being unhappy is a crowded market.
Write and then re-write. Even if the poem
takes years, make it seem like it took
only the seconds it takes to read.
Anyone can write if they have the time
and will, but most prefer the hassle of living
to the hassle of words – that’s a comforting thought.
Be precise, like surgeons or lawyers.
Desire, also, to re-shape the world
as fundamentally as scientists or soldiers.
Make your writing seem like no-one else’s,
for that you’ll have to ignore any advice
given to you – so you can ignore all I’ve said.
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PurlDruid reviewed Version 1 -
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Bravo!! Okay people…poetry is precise- like saying one word to a poet “bravo”- they can picture you standing and clapping, or laughing- but if you have to blither on about what you think beyond that- with a poem such as this- it’s a waste really. Okay,let’s all get back to work, thank you for listening and for your poem.
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AstroBoyJ7 reviewed Version 1 -
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This is a very clever and novel approach to giving poetry advice. The fact that it is a pretty good poem in it’s own right doesn’t hurt either. Nice job!
halebop reviewed Version 1 -
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The forum’s become much rounder since you’ve been around.One or two actors on one or two occasions have imparted the “ignore all I’ve said”angle after giving advice.Makes for immediate employment.Thanks for the encouragement.
Cestlavive reviewed Version 1 -
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That made me smile
especially when you wrote “Write about happiness –
being unhappy is a crowded market.” Because now a days that is soooo true.
But, i really enjoyed this piece, its a good guide. Though never in my life have i taken years to write a poem (lol).
Reveleson reviewed Version 1 -
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From the beginning you had me with,
‘Dreaming up a poem
is not compatible with judging
distances and steering straight.’
It was funny and true. All the advice in the world can’t make anyone a better writer…but re-writing can…I guess. Thanks for the advice…I will choose to ignore…because I don’t believe that anybody can be a writer.
Willow_Wren reviewed Version 1 -
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This harbors on the didactic with a bit of proselytizing and for that reason alone is a bit off-putting, distances the reader more so than drawing him in. Not that what is said is wrong, but the manner in which it is told is too much telling and not enough showing, I feel like I’m being scolded for some reason as if I’ve done something wrong. Odd isn’t it? We’ve all heard these words in various forms in books and workshops but to me it seems so cold here. Just my take, sorry.
Frogking reviewed Version 1 -
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My kind of stuff here. I’ll have to disobey the first advice, my best writing comes to me while driving and unhappiness spawns powerful works. The only critique would be, depending on how it’s read, might sound like several short poems thrown together.
AmyWalker reviewed Version 1 -
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Ha! Very cool and most very true in some respects.
I dont actually drive I catch the bus and believe me I get alot of inspiration just by sitting on the bus I could finish a piece just going on my way to work and once at work Im adding the finishing touches and editing which words need taking out and which words stay in.
Anyways this actually great stuff and very useful thanks for the advice I’ll keep it in mind, go through one ear and out the other most probably but no worries
Great stuff, you derserve a big 10
Amy
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