All You Want Is Praise Poem by Juan Olivarez

All you want is praise, you don't want to really know,
How bad this poem of your's really is.
You can express yourself and go with the flow,
But these jumbled words must be dismissed.

Please just look at it yourself, for just a little while,
And then see what you really think.
Some there are who will not follow any style,
And they will praise it, though it may stink.

Let's take for example a short poem called a Haiku,
Please don't make an ode out of something small.
If you do people will think you have no clue,
And they will ignore you once you give them a call.

Other's there are who say throw out the old lets start again,
What is the use of all these books you see.
Let everybody invent their own rules my friend,
Though your poem is bad, your mind is free.

So if praise you receive be glad you did, and do it all again,
But the best comments you'll ever get are negative you see.
Only then will your mind continue to grow my friend,
Only then will your poetic soul be free.


(7/12/11-Alton Texas)