YOU do not write
                                   POETRY
                                   POETRY writes itself

You are there only to guide words
        direct thoughts onto the page
YOU
are nothing more than a conduit
                 The words are the words

I’ve been trying
                                 to write poetry
for years
now
a realization my fault
                 was in trying

Struggling with and strangling
                      what should have come out
Trying too hard
to change
what comes naturally
or to alter what is there

If you try too hard, with a poem,
or with poetry,
                               it loses immediacy
                               it lacks authenticity

Poetry must be effortless, and
that takes an effort. To let the words flow
you must allow space
                                             on the page
in your life

for poetry

Of course, there are other things
we must concern ourselves with
                                  racism and riots
and wars
                               a global economy
squeezing the shit
out of people unable
to defend themselves
against capitalism and crime;
                                               greed;
                                  politic(ian)s;
                                      hypocrisy;
varied faces of evil
arriving daily on our doorstep

We must guard
against such trials
we must pay bills and
support those trying to support us

Might we be better able
to do so
                 with poetry
Maybe, just maybe, a few words
          of beauty and significance
          each day
would better prepare us for
battles we chose, or chose not

Poetry is an effective elixir
for all that ails
giving voice to our vulnerabilities, and fears
strength to our struggles and
ballast to our bliss.
It may provide a few moments in the day
       where we can believe there is beauty
       and hope and honesty
       in the reality that tells us
       it cannot exist

With poetry
it can

YOU do not write
                                    POETRY
                                    POETRY rights YOU
©2015 j.g. lewis

Last month was all about the poetry.