Poetry

Snow
by Earl Bergland, 1972

You, patrons, venture to ensnare a snowflake
To minutely examine love's frailest crystal
To gain scientific data for the benefit of man.
Thereby exciting sensuous intellect to philosophize
Its merits for the intimate intra relationships
Of homo sapiens. Ah, the achievement of civilization!

I stalk the treacherous snow fatted mountains
Cursing and ranting at them to suffocate me
With a hurricane of love's avalanches.

Yet they hold back knowing, yea, even fearing
They would vapor be
In their crushing of me.

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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.