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Fair warning to anyone who reads this: I have strong opinions about poetry, and I've expressed them in the pages that follow. This is my personal site, my own private place, so I don't have to add any weak weasel words like "in my opinion" or "perhaps" or "I believe". You're about to come face to face with my opinions, stated as the truths I believe them to be. I make no apologies here.
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On Poetry
If ye would have a Revel win
For prizes, marks, or pride
Then read ye well three things I tell
And by these words abide.
The first is meter; so we call
The rhythm of the verse.
Count syllables and match the stress
Or it will come out worse.
Rhyme is the second tool to use
To make the judge contented.
For in these ancient lands, free verse
Has not yet been invented.
Last but not least comes imagery
Whereby you should engage
Each of the reader's senses; paint
Word-pictures on the page.
Recite your poetry out loud
Or sing it as a song.
You know you are successful when
Your family sings along.
Do these three things, and while I can't
Just promise you a win
At least your poem's chance won't end
The moment you begin.
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