Why do I write Poetry? – a NON-ENTRY.
Why do I write poetry you ask?
Please wait a bit while I consult my Muse.
To answer you is not an easy task
for there are many reasons I might choose.
I do not hope to earn poetic fame
as many others obviously do,
nor AP points or trophies try to gain,
for contests I consistently eschew.
I write because I love my mother tongue
and I am fortunate that, in my time,
I’ve learned from the great choral works I’ve sung,
complexities of rhythm, lilt and rhyme.
All those who, for fine music have no ear,
I pity for without ability,
it's difficult subconsciously to rear
mellifluously metered poetry.
And I believe, for better or for worse,
that those who cannot grasp or handle meter,
will write no better than so-called ‘free verse’
or prose, chopped into lines so it looks neater.
But now I’ll say, in answer to your question,
that I write poetry because I’m fired
not only by poetic indigestion
but by whatever subject has inspired.
Philosophy of life and love inspires me
as does my God and Nature in Their Glory.
Mankind and all his frequent foibles fires me,
like man’s religions and historic story.
I love the sea’s variety of mood,
the landscape of the homeland where I live;
I love the female figure in the nude
and all the beauty Nature has to give.
I love the history of our Maori race
from which we still have much to learn it seems;
the works of the great writers and the grace
of Opera and Drama with its dreams.
So, when a subject grips my Muse and mind,
I cannot rest until I’ve put in verse
my feeling or belief to leave behind -
for this compulsion is the poet’s curse.
In anything I write or say or do,
I must, to my ideals and self, stay true.
Hugh Wyles, August 6th. 2007.
Author notes
My thanks to Jenelda (PERKCAO) for this contest which has inspired me to write this poem.
With love and hugs, Hugh (R.)
In a list
A contest entry
- CONTEST FOR HUGH WYLES FAVORITE’S ONLY # 18 by huguenauties.
750 points, ended August 14, 2007, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Your mastery and perfection shine dear Huge.
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Dear Hugh,
Wonderful reasons on why you write Poetry.
Having the training through music has been a God send to you, it does make it harder to pick up the rythm, rhyme and lilt, but it does get easier as I write more.
You inspire me my dear friend to do my best.
Also, like Hine I love the picture of you and wish that I too can stand behind you when you're creating another poem. Maybe one day i'll be able to visit your wonderful country.
I enjoyed reading your poem very much.
Love Jen.
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A true Poet
Dear Hugh, I love the picture of you sitting at your computer probably writing one of your many wonderful poems. I remember seeing you sitting there when Heath and I have come to visit.
Some very good valid reasons why you write poetry. I know how meticulous you are on getting everything right.
Beautifully written as always my dear friend.
Love Hine.
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Dear Hugh,
Your love of your mother tongue is evident in everything you write. You are fortunate to have such a great talent, to be able to write so eloquently about the things that mean a great deal to you. We, your readers and friends, are fortunate too. It is always a pleasure to read your poetry. Whether it is written about something or to somebody, it is always of the highest quality!
I'm so glad that you are true to you!
Love and hugs,
Maureen
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Dear Hugh,
Those last two lines are what will stick longest with me about this poem. I keep hearing that "rhyme in poetry is dead" and free verse is the "only" way to go, but I find it so much less satisfying. I've started to write both under "free verse pressure", but will always prefer rhyme.
Meter I struggle with...I've often felt equivalant to a musically tone deaf person when it comes to poetry, so your verse about that really hit home. 
I've gotten better, but strive for the understanding and talent you have with it.
Thank you for sharing with us the reasons you write poetry...I know you to be a person who has their priorities well in line.
Love ands
~J.
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I can only aspire to write as well as you do...but if y ou do not like contest why do you like having them so often and encourage every one to join in the fun...it is fun to enter though...don't know why though since I have such a hard time with rhymes and I have no idea of the different types of poetry...mine all seem to be the same just different words...any way...it is fun and frustrating at the same time..
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Dear Darlene,
Your question is a valid one, to answer which I can only ask you to read through this rather lengthy explanation:
http://allpoetry.com/poem/2288761
With thanks, much love and hugs, XXX Hugh.
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"In anything I write or say or do,
I must, to my ideals and self, stay true."
That's the thing, and it's what I hope I do in my "serious" fiction. Its quality may suck but it's written with what I consider integrity and literary honesty...and I continue to write it despite universal disapproval, lol.
I've always liked that you love where you live, write of your region, chronicle its history and mention it fondly (and critically when needed.) Once again, I've tried to do that in my prose.
I think Jenelda done did good with this here contest.
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Dear Hugh,
Thankyou for your explicit discourse on why you write the poetry you do.
There is no doubt that our appreciation and involvement in music has been a great aid to the understanding of rhythm and meter in poetry.
I know I don't write very often but, when I do, I take pains (as you have taught me) to polish my grammar, spelling, rhyme and meter before I post it for:
I don't admire those writers by the way,
whose work is seldom polished or corrected,
who churn out 'poems' (three or four a day!)
as though by verbal diarrhoea infected.
Applause and sincere regards,
Heathcote.
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However meters and rhymes add a nice rhythm to poetry, I don't see why the "so called" free verse is less worth than any other kind of form. I have read enough poems to see that only rhyme and meter aren't enough to make of a poem a good work. Lots of tetrameter, pentameter, AABBCC rhyme scheme and heavens know what else, that are nothing but pure crap. But well
Sorry I let myself go on that particular subject...
You have talent and write amazing poems, I don't think your muse is difficult, she allows you to write of whatever you like.
I like your new picture, you at work
I enjoyed your poem, except for one stanza
Kisses de tu hija,
Mariza
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Dear Hugh,
This is wonderful how you describe why you like to write poetry. It's fantastic the way your muse and the love of music inspires you to write your beautiful poems.
Beautifully written my dear Friend.
Love Bea.
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Oh, my, Hugh... This poem of writing is very eloquent in it's expression of your writing. It's so much like you, my dear friend, the Hugh who was born to write, to express himself through the beauty of the English language and the heart of his soul.
An excellent piece, I read it three time already and will place it in my bookmarks to enjoy again and again.
Dee
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