Poetry

Love's Ocean
by Earl Bergland, 1971

O, regal men taste of love's chalice
As you please to but christen the lips.
Swirl the bouquet gently with noble poise.
Scent its opulence, swoon in your charm.

I famish for love's ocean
As a castle ravishing sperm whale
Gulping in joy by a thousand barrel
Quenching a thirst dried by dusty winds.

I plunge as a rock, drunkardly tumbling
Feeling sadistic pressure torturing.
Then crawling to surface sucking in life,
Quivering, exhausted, floating, star watching.

I battle capsizing assaults with a victor's suffering
Only to be subdued by foggy-truthed shadows.
In lazy darkness the crafty moon drifts me
To coral reefs where the undertow seeks the sand.

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Writing Poetry

Why Poetry? Poems are written by people who are too lazy to write a book. Most people who write poetry would do more good for the world by growing flowers or painting old barns. But we need to have patience because many young poets just need a few years of practicing as do musicians.
What are the three basic requirements for a quality poem?
A. The topic must be very important.
B. The poet must express thoughts with clarity.
C. The poem must create a dramatic impact (create an emotional feeling) in reader.
Is poetry a waste of time? That is a tough question. We can wonder the same thing about fishing or watching a football game. A poem provides the poet with a means of expressing ideas and feelings by a very personal means. Playing basket ball or cooking is also a means of personal expression.
What kind of an attitude should we have about reading poetry? Imagine sitting in a park on a spring day listening to your friend discuss ideas with you. Poets love waterfalls and country fried chicken.