How Do I Write A Poem? Poem by Denis Martindale

How do I write a poem, friends?
With one phrase at a time,
Until, of course, the last verse ends
And each verse looks sublime...
For patient edits here and there
Can change a word or two,
Perhaps to add a certain flair,
Or change a point of view...

Though punctuation makes me frown
And drives me up the wall,
I mustn't let it get me down,
Though errors may seem small...
There's such a feeling when it's done,
Much more than just relief,
Like parting clouds reveal the sun
That melts away the grief...

I've got this T.V. in my mind
That plays out every scene,
Some ideas chosen, some declined,
Depending if I'm keen...
Perhaps a Scripture verse was known
That helps the theme along,
Perhaps a conflict that's been shown
To highlight right or wrong...

A title wriggles as a thought
That I can then explore
And suddenly it's like it's caught
To open me to more...
And through that door, I'm off again,
Rhymes pouncing on the page,
Now flowing from my fountain pen
As if to centre stage...

Then woe betide intruders should
They stand nearby and ask,
If what I'm doing's any good
Before my final task...
As I'm still on the editing,
Until this thing's O.K.!
So forgive me, if I'm sitting
And pleading, 'GO AWAY! '



Denis Martindale, March 2016.