Poem a Day 13: How to Write a Poem

I don't have any advice

on how to write

a poem. After nearly fifty years

of setting words to paper,

I only know what works for me,

that sense of settling within,

opening up to some intuitive leap

that knits together word by word,

a fresh awareness of every breath,

a gift, this flesh, this mind, this heart:

all plays together 

to create something new.

Rather different than other writing,

no blundering through research

linking dates and people,

letters long forgotten,

or even fiction, all the work

behind creating that imaginary realm

of characters, setting, conflict,

and happy ever after,

or not so happily ever after.

The writer's journey is never quite complete.

Yet with a poem, that steady concentration

brings us to an awareness, a celebration,

a beginning and an ending,

words on the page that just might

satisfy some yearning. 

Now, can you say 

you know how to write a poem?

Pick up that pen or poise your fingers over the keyboard

and listen to your most hidden, innermost self.

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Catch up on all the poetry prompts from Robert Brewer at Writer's Digest! Today's Poem-A-Day Challenge prompt asks us to take the phrase "How to (blank)," replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: "How to Win at Life," "How to Cook Lasagna," "How to Fall in Love," and/or "How to Write a Poem." Yes, I took that last prompt as if I knew how to write a poem.