How to Write a Poem
Learn to curse in three languages. When midday
yawns stack high and your eyelids flutter, fire up
the chain saw; there’s always something to dismember.
Make it new. Fear no bridges. Accelerate through
curves, and look twice before leaping over fires,
much less into them. Read bones, read leaves, read
the dust on shelves and commit to memory a thousand
discarded lines. Next, torch them. Take more than you
need, buy books, scratch notes in the dirt and watch
them scatter down nameless alleys at the evening’s first
gusts. Gather words and courtesies. Guard them carefully.
Play with others, observe birds, insects and neighbors,
but covet your minutes alone and handle with bare hands
only those snakes you know. Mourn the kindling you create
and toast each new moon as if it might be the last one
to tug your personal tides. When driving, sing with the radio.
Always. Turn around instead of right. Deny ambition.
Remember the freckles on your first love’s left breast.
There are no one-way streets. Appreciate the fragrance
of fresh dog shit while scraping it from the boot’s sole.
Steal, don’t borrow. Murder your darlings and don’t get
caught. Know nothing, but know it well. Speak softly
and thank the grocery store clerk for wishing you
a nice day even if she didn’t mean it. Then mow the grass,
grill vegetables, eat, laugh, wash dishes, talk, bathe,
kiss loved ones, sleep, dream, wake. Do it all again.
This is amazing. One to print out and keep by my desk.
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Thanks very much. Am honored.
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I like it so I have reblogged it.Thank you
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Thank you.
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I love it,
I always knew
There was a secret
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Ha! And there’s always more to the secret!
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I can curse in Irish English Spanish and Catalan, does that make me a poet?
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It’s a good start. How are your chain saw skills?
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Pingback: How to Write a Poem – surreptitious scribbles
Would you be interested in having this poem featured on my website http://www.writerhaven.co.uk? It would be in the other writer section, and would of course feature links back to your site.
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That would be wonderful. Thanks very much.
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strong words well written – thanks
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Thank you. Much appreciated.
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Irony and humor have crafted exquisitely. It’s has been a pleasure to read you. Anand Bose from Kerala.
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Thank you, Anand.
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Reblogged this on alanadey.
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Thanks for reblogging!
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Awesome poem!!! You should put in a submission to twodropsofinkat.wordpress.com. The site was voted one of the Top 100 sites for writers.
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Thanks, Lydia. I’d consider submitting there, but they want exclusive rights for a year, and that’s not something I’m willing to do. But I appreciate the thought!
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You’re welcome!!!
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You’re welcome Robert!!!
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Reblogged this on Crocodile Prize PNG and commented:
Struggling to write your poem for Crocodile Prize? Here is some creative humour from Robert Okaji.
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So glad you reblogged this. Thank you!
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Ah, so live and dissect your own life afterwards. Brilliant 🙂
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Well, it seems to work. 🙂
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Don’t you require a chainsaw licence your neck of the woods? Nice one
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They’re kind of like guns around here – everyone has one. 🙂
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“Know nothing, but know it well.” Very nice phrase.
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Thank you!
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Thanks for the like… 🙂 and for bringing me to this little gem! Nice work indeed!
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You’re very welcome, and thanks for the return favor.
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Hahaha. Cracked me up for good
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That’s good to hear. Thank you.
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I’ve got a small chainsaw. Start small, then go for big. Ah, this is poetry.
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“Start small…” Excellent advice!
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Best writing advise I have read yet.
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Thanks very much. So pleased you like it.
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Reblogged this on formidable woman: toward a culture of gentleness and commented:
“do it all again.” meet #poet, Robert Okaji, one of the poets reading with me this Friday night. I love this one. It is right on.
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Thanks for reblogging, D.
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Nice
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Thanks very much. FYI, I’m not sure why, but your comment was in my spam folder.
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awww…. It doesn’t want my comment on your posts.. lol
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