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professor
professor
Oct 23, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Poetry

If it’s words you choose to bare your soul,Remember they can’t make you whole.Art may be a lie that shows us truth,But it cannot heal or bring back youth. So be it rhyme, blank verse or prose,Don’t only scratch your arse and nose.Make me your reader; bind me with your art;Take me with you from the start. Don’t just scribble with your pen in rage,Or rant until you’ve filled the page.Neither waste one word, nor force the rhyme,Distil each thought with care and time. And when you think your work is done,Your editor’s pen has just begun.Don’t read it in your head alone,But sound each image and change of tone. Try words that show and don’t just tell,Paint us a picture and weave in us your spell.Part art, part magic and illusion too,A poem’s truth convinces all.... not only you.
— professor, Oct 23, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: China/Sichuan/Chengdu, CHN

Favorite Poets: Yeats, Elliot, Auden, Keats, Shelley, Byron

More from this author

Critiques

Seren

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

Dearest Keith

COUPLETSSSSSSSSSSS .... you know I love rhyming ... and this I wonder who inspired or what and its sooo good to see you posting !!! happy dances my way out ... now all you have to do is get Lacy to post and I will be content And when you think your work is done, Your editor’s pen has just begun. Don’t read it in your head alone, But sound each image and change of tone. those words are awesome and bloody true .. and it was YOU that made me realise that poetry isnt just writen and finished it takes time and tending them with care ... without your guidance ... well lets just say my poetry ... would still be in the drawers and I might have left here a long time ago ... Glad to see you back huni love and biggest hugs JayC x x x xmwah
professor

professor

16 years 7 months ago

Thanks JayC darling

I knew i could rely on you to read this lol. Its not so much poetry as poetic advice. I am flattered by your words as always and hope indeed there were happy dances inside as you wrote them. I am working on Lacy and i guess i thought perhaps i should lead by example. Love and hugs Keith
Seren

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

And very good advice it is

And very good advice it is ... though you have never steered me wrong yet ...and I happy danced when I saw you had posted ... i was like OMG !! hahaha but it is good to have you back my friend ... I have missed you both tell Lacy I said look at lots of art ... and be inspired lol love and hugs Jayne x x
themoonman

themoonman

16 years 7 months ago

Keith...

This should be read by all! Very good advice in poetic phrases, I love the poem, especially the second verse, a good poem captures the reader from its start, takes them on the same journey... allowing the reader to feel it, yes, this is very good Keith! I did feel for flows sake... paint us a picture and weave your spell (in us.. removed would nail it) just an idea, I see why it is there, but seemed to redundant because the entire poem was about sending the message to us... just a thought sir, glad to see you here with your pen glowing. Richard
professor

professor

16 years 7 months ago

Thanks Richard

Im happy it hit the right spot. I understand what you are saying about that line although the additional length in that line was intended to slow things down in preparation for the longer last punch line and in some ways to help break the strong monotonic control that rhyming couplets inevitably produce in the way a poem is read. Thanks as always for your feedback and i will take it under consideration. with my best wishes Keith
DS

Diatom Shells

16 years 7 months ago

hello keith

this is witty and refreshing for me. its serious yet fun and a good lesson on how to write and when to submit. you didn't force your rhyme and it makes sense too often the rhyming ones don't make sense to me or they trickle off on too many subjects instead of sticking with one clear picture. nicely done sir! -shells
professor

professor

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Shells

Thankyou for such appreciation. Rhyming couplets are the bane of many but they are always a good test of natural rhyming skills and they suit the subject matter in this case i think. with my best wishes Keith
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 7 months ago

It is a joy to see your

It is a joy to see your picture and read another tale from your pen (on a poet's pen), even if it's how to be held by it--make beautiful music together. Well done. ~Anna There are no strangers in Paradise.
professor

professor

16 years 7 months ago

Dearest Anna

I am glad to be back although life is still very hectic. I know you are not much one for rules but am glad you liked the poem lol. Keith
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 7 months ago

Rules? I follow rules, I

Rules? I follow rules, I bend rules, I break rules, make rules my lover, so to speak... and I always push my own envelope. Stand at the edge, wondering what poem will kill me softly...again and again...in the good bad and ugliness of it all. ;-) ~A
seabhac

seabhac

16 years 7 months ago

Didn't spot this until now

Print it out Stick on wall Underline Valid points Ha ha delightful and brought a big grin to my face... Jayne C was so right in her appraisal of you Seabhac
professor

professor

16 years 7 months ago

I wonder which wall you will choose Seabhac?

Hopefully there is some sound advice contained within this slightly humorous piece. If you like a little fun in poetry then try reading my poem "Supermarket love". As for JayC's appraisal, I can only imagine its content lol. Keith
ID

Ink Dragon

16 years 7 months ago

Keith,

I do hope everyone will read this, in particular my favourite stanza: "So be it rhyme, blank verse or prose, Don’t only scratch your arse and nose. Make me your reader; bind me with your art; Take me with you from the start." You have definitely bound this reader with your art. Yours, ~Nina
Seren

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

Dearest Professor

Keith :P ... congratulations on spotlight my friend ... I was right or was I right ? hahaha ... god its nice to be right sometimes lol but well done you bedazzled us again with your style and superb skills .. love and hugs JayC x x x