Do I know all about my subject?
Yes; I know that's true.
Is my experience broad enough
For what I want to do?
Will my feelings show in writing?
That I don't know yet
But if I make a conscious effort
My meaning you shall get.
Will descriptions show the picture
Which is locked up in my mind?
Can I choose the words correctly
Without getting in a bind?
Will my grammar make it readable?
Full stops, commas, all that stuff,
Or will the finished product
Be just too bl**dy rough?
Will the words flow like a river,
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow,
Will the rhythm suit the words I use?
I would really like to know.
Well, I guess I'd better write it out
Then forget it for a while,
When I come back to edit it
I may even raise a smile
To find the errors I have written
Damn mistakes that I have made
Check that 'sunny days have sunshine
Tall trees make good shade.'
Then it can rest awhile once more
For this work it's but a try
When I come back next edit
I'll read with different eyes.
When I'm happy that this work's complete
I'll post it up somewhere
Hear what you readers have to say
Hope you'll always treat me fair.
A contest entry
- Do You Write Serious Poetry or the Kind that Rhymes? (Contest) by Peripatetic.
1400 points, ended July 29, 2008, 27 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
A tongue in cheek look at writing
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Well, after running through tons of oyur poems trying to find one i hadn't read, i came across this. It was a great write about writing and how it went across. You did a fine job with the questions. There's a real poser put forth in this piece, but i love that line "with different eyes' That is so - deep. It sounds like you were truly wondering about how things were going across when you wrote this. Musy have been on the mind somewhere. What you wrote, i suppose crosses the mind of all poets here, wondering whether they are going to stand up to other people's ideas of good poetry. Well, as far as i am concerned, all poems mean something, no matter how bad the owner may think they are. They all come from within someone and mean something. A wonderful write, Bob.
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Many thanks once again for your great comments. At times I have had serious doubts about my writing but have come to terms with it now. At one time I tried to write for contest and stuff like that but realised that is not my style. After two years some of my stuff is still getting read on a regular basis, so I'm content with that. Good poetry will stand the test of time like Banjo paterson, Henry Lawson, henry Kendall, shakespeare and co. I will have to look down from above to find out if mine survives or not. Meantime I am having fun writing .
I think that all poetry has meaning to the writer. The meaning varies according to the attitude and taste of the readers. We are all different. Thanks again , my poet friend.
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This is a delightfully serious humorous relating of the self-editing process that takes us from the original concept to the final release of the work.
There are several gems here, but I especially enjoyed stanzas 6 & 8.
As the poet notes, readers will continue to edit even then. All any of us can hope for is that our work may be judged on its merits.
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Thank you my friend, it is serious - humourous doing your own editing. I went back to a year or so ago and read a poem I had written in all seriousness; and I laughed. Perhaps my knowledge has grown a little in that time.
It would be nice to write a masterful poem. [Dream on , poets}
Cheers
Bob
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Ah, your poetry is smooth as butter. I'm really enjoying it, and the things you bring to mind...like an instructor telling me once that a writer is rarely satisfied with what he writes and editing is an on-going thing. But thoughts are an instant and far reaching phenomenon. How quickly you've touched mine this morning from across the world!
The question in this contest makes me wonder why rhyming poetry is not considered serious poetry, too. It takes just as much thought, and sometimes more consideraton for it's delivery. The subject matter is not frivoulous simply because it rhymes, nor is the impact if well done. That you put so much care into the writing makes it look easy. I like your style, and the touches we don't see!
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You know that flattery will get you everywhere, but I like it. Thank you so much. About 18 months ago my partner started on the internet[she writes short stories] and she knew I used to write many years ago."you write a poem and I'll put it on my page" she said. "OK" and that was then. Now I have quite a few poems on AP with a couple of items on Storywrite. What I wrote here is pretty much as it is in reality. sometimes I just delete an item that is going nowhere. I am so pleased that you understand that rhymimg poetry is not easy. My objective is to write so that what I write can be read, understood and enjoyed. The writer owns the copyright but the writing belongs to the reader. Interesting concept.
Thank you for reading my work.
Cheers
Bob.
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I like this, Bob. This is a beautiful, poetic account of your own poetic journey, and I'm sure many can relate to this. I think it's natural for any artist to always pursue for that "result" that would give us not just happiness but also "peace." You know, that result which we won't feel awkward about. But I also believe that each work really deserves our very "best" especially because, one way or the other, they reflect a piece of us.
These are my favorite stanzas:
To find the errors I have written
Damn mistakes that I have made
Check that 'sunny days have sunshine
Tall trees make good shade.'
Then it can rest awhile once more
For this work it's but a try
When I come back next edit
I'll read with different eyes.
Wonderful job, Bob.
joy
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Thank you Joy, my poetry has a long way to go yet and may never get where I would like it to be. However, while I can hold a pen I shall continue to write for two reasons. One is that I get pleasure from writing and the other is that I have a lot of stories to tell and my time is limited. I am about to embark on an critical editing journey through my own stuff. Could be interesting?
Cheers and best wishes
Bob
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I like it
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Hi James, I think we all do something similar when writing. When the piece is finished we wonder why we worried so much. Maybe its that ego thing, we want to do a good job.
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