The Commandments Of Poetry Poem by RIC BASTASA

I shall love poetry
For it is the conversation of God
Over my world

This is not a godless art
Though I name no God
I am bearing witness
To Him creating these
Poems

I do not write poetry
To excite myself
I write them
To sustain
My soul

I shall never use poetry
As a pretext
For fame and glory
It is my spiritual
Devotion

Poetry is pure
Virginal
It is not found
In conformity

I shall bring forth my poems
As a mother brings forth
Her children
Out of my own flesh
And blood

This poem shall not be
An analgesic to kill the pain
But it shall be the wine
That puts me to action

Each poem created
Shall leave me humble
It can never equal my dreams
And always inferior
To God’s marvelous
Creations
Always second
To Nature.


Poetry rises from my heart
In these words
And they have no purpose
But to purify

This poetry shall grow
The flowers of compassion
To console
The hearts of the lonely
And those who are lost