A Tough Trade

A Kind of Manifesto

Poetry is a tough trade,

you need a good ear and a good eye.

You need to be a word mechanic,

working on the fine tuning,

You need to have hands greasy with ink.

it`s nothing to do with weeping willows or broken hearts.

Moons are not blue and flamingos not pretty.

So please stop banging on about the stars.

You just have to look for the special moment,

when,for a second,everything comes together.

You have to wait, you can`t force it.

She always speaks like we all do,

all the words together,not like a book.

She says everything like some kind of mantra,

iwishiwasdead,

iwishiwasdead.

As I said,a tough trade.

Reviews

[Gary H]

I think you make some great points here though would add that poetry is to do with interpretation too. From reading this I see you are understanding a viewpoint from possibly another poet or person who may have valid reasons for weaping willows. What they could be, who knows? But that's all part of the mystery of reading poems.

[MoriartyMesa]

I kind of had visions of Rodney Dangerfield and Mark Twain on stage going back and forth.


Im just weird, been drinking its late, but i liked this.

[Tina Kline]

Yes, you speak the truth here. It's not always smooth sailing when writing a poem, it is a lot of hard work. Writing is a mystery.....it is a tough trade. I really like this poem!

[Lydia Blackwell]

I dare say, Alessander would like this one or my friend Palewriter. i whole heartedly agree. nothing can be forced. and it is about waiting for that special moment. that is why I carry pen and paper everywhere I go. sometimes I pull over on the side of the road, if I need to. for there is no law against this yet.
good write- not particularly poetic, but informative. there is nothing wrong with that!

[Judy Ponceby]

a dirty business is poetry, labored over with greatest of care, perfected at the grind of ink and paper, mind and imagery. found only in that briefest glimpse of insight. well done.

[Emily Rae]

Like the harsh edge in this piece

[Michael of Gilead]

cool....and far to close to the truth.

[Jack Isaac]

And so tough it is not to strike a cliche --which you have not done by the way. Nice angle! Though I feel so guilty now as for my poetic transgressions. I agree that poetry is a tough trade --a trade-off in personal time to jot down feelings in rhyme --but to sell? Woah! Oh well, your's would fare better than mine I can tell. Nice flow of wisdom you've provided here! Exellent wake up call!

[rae52]

really good well done

[Richard Anthony Goulart]

Wow that is insanely amazing.