Home » Poems » John Watt » All of Life Is a Poem

All of Life Is a Poem

Poetry is the power of defining the indefinable in terms of the unforgettable ~ LOUIS UNTERMEYER all of life is a poem sometimes the inkwell is empty the quill rests the deer pants for a stream but finds only hardscrabble land all of life is a poem as we rearrange its lines to find rhyme in mayhem beauty in chaos reason in ambiguity hope in a dungeon all of life is a poem sometimes sometimes it gets put into words Written 22 Feb 2021

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Jcb Brul

Date: 9/10/2022 10:38:00 AM

Susan is right, your poems need to be read by many and I am among the many who need to read them before the time’s up. More power.

John Watt
Date: 9/12/2022 12:08:00 AM

Such an endearing thing to say, J! I am honored and humbled ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/18/2022 4:36:00 PM

another fave of mine. You are running the marathon well, my friend!! BIG congrats to you.

John Watt
Date: 6/18/2022 11:51:00 PM

Thank you for another delightful comment, Andrea. Your congrats are dearly received ~ John

Susan Ashley

Date: 6/15/2022 1:56:00 PM

Dearest PoBro, your genuine golden pen shines with deep, vivid and thought provoking imagery, so inviting to my heart's imagination and so satisfying to my sense of wonder and contemplation. I adore this masterful poem and admire your command of creative expression. May I echo your eloquence bestowed upon my poem "Quietus": "may the unfortunate eyes who have never before seen the glory of your artistry and poetic prowess be opened to your elegant touch and golden pen." Your amazing poetry needs to be read by many, John. Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark's contest. Warmest wishes and hugs, my inspiring friend.. your PS-PS.. P.S. I love the quote too!

John Watt
Date: 6/16/2022 12:19:00 AM

Dearest PS-PS, I could have said All of Susan is a Poem, as your comments, replies, soup mails and poems are always creative gems of linguistic artistry, both inspired and inspiring. Thank you for the amount of time you spend in poring over and commenting on my efforts. You have mastered the art of validation and edification, for which I am eternally beguiled, delighted, and grateful. With warm affection, PoBro

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 6/15/2022 9:26:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. WOW!!! What a write. Love your line, "sometimes it gets put into words." So True. You had all the right words here. Have a blessed day writing away.................

John Watt
Date: 6/16/2022 12:08:00 AM

Thank you, my friend! You say the nicest things. I did have a blessed day today, and hope you did as well. Thank you for all the kindness you shower me with ~ John

Tom Cunningham

Date: 6/15/2022 3:45:00 AM

Nice to read this one again John, congrats on your win. 25 to go phew. Tom

John Watt
Date: 6/16/2022 12:07:00 AM

Thanks for the return visit, let's not get winded too early!

Mark Toney

Date: 6/14/2022 10:08:00 PM

Congratulations, John, on your win on Mile 1 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon contest. I love the imagery of your poem and the brilliant way it ends. Mile 2 is up and running!

John Watt
Date: 6/14/2022 10:36:00 PM

Off to the races we go! Thank you Mark for esteeming this poem worthy to be placed among such fantastic entries. I look forward to reading the great poets you choose as your winners.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 4/29/2022 6:07:00 AM

I love this one! I am going to look up hardscrabble now; a word I have never seen in my life!

John Watt
Date: 4/30/2022 7:21:00 PM

I hope I used the word correctly; you were not the only reader who went to look it up. I hope it means something other than a challenging board game, lol ~ John

Marikate Kingston

Date: 2/7/2022 11:27:00 AM

It's fun for me to think of an idea to write about. A situation will present itself and jumps into a poem, and other days my "inkwell is empty" too. I enjoyed your analogies and metaphors. So clever, so true, you're right, " life is a poem"

John Watt
Date: 2/7/2022 11:58:00 AM

I sure appreciate your visits and comments today, Marikate. I do enjoy writing about writing, especially the mysterious comings and goings of one's muse. I also have enjoyed reading your poems and look forward to your new ones. Enjoy your Monday ~ John

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 1/24/2022 11:44:00 AM

Well these words certainly made up a gem of a poem and found their way to Poetry Soup's Anthology - very clever - life is a poem for all us poets - you have captured the essence of words which we play with and throw, or craft or create or string together, but somehow we manage to do it. Congratulations my friend. Blessings and hugs Jennifer.

John Watt
Date: 1/25/2022 7:25:00 PM

Thank you dear friend for visiting this one from a year ago. As I recall, this came during my big dry spell of 2021, but I feel very blessed that PS accepted this for their book. You are so kind to comment on my poems that were included! Blessings and hugs ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/12/2021 10:43:00 AM

AHA, a fave of mine (as I begin searching for your best works). This one I think would be one for the anthology!!

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 6/17/2021 7:26:00 AM

Sometimes ... the chaos IS the beauty - the mayhem IS the rhyme. The light shines brightest in the deepest black ... sometimes our muse needs to breathe, I think, and when the words don't come, they're not supposed to. There's something grander taking place, that will find its expression in due time. This is a superb write, John, and going into my faves - thanks for sharing this marvelous gem of insight. Blessings!

Timothy Hicks

Date: 4/20/2021 9:28:00 PM

Loved that twist ending. Really makes you think. I think that's a good definition of poetry, beyond what people normally associate it with (rhymes, rhythm, lines, and so forth). As one other fellow Souper pointed out: in Greek the word for "God" and "Poet" are the same. God is a poet, creation and words are linked. "the Word became Flesh" (according to certain Bible verses) ... in Genesis, everything was "spoken" into being. Etc., etc., .... this idea is very fascinating to me.

Timothy Hicks
Date: 4/20/2021 9:29:00 PM

Kind of went off on a tangent there ... but long story short ... Great little poem!

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 4/5/2021 12:11:00 PM

John as long as poets exist poetry is life and life is poetry. I love your write. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

John Watt
Date: 4/5/2021 8:46:00 PM

Thank you for coming by for another visit, dear friend.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/23/2021 3:57:00 PM

so nice to see this one above mine in the best new poems list. We are not too far down!! But not that close to the top either. haha! I LOVE this, as you know!!

John Watt
Date: 3/27/2021 11:24:00 PM

I guess the list was updated before I saw your comment, as it is over a month old now and not there. But thanks for letting me know, dear friend! I always will smile from reading your delightful comments ~ John

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 3/7/2021 12:30:00 PM

Interesting take on a poems life John, very well penned with good imagery too. Hope all is well, blessings always,Gordon

John Watt
Date: 3/27/2021 11:23:00 PM

Thank you dear Gordon, so kind of you to say. Trust all is well with you in Scotland ~ John

Sam Kauffman

Date: 3/3/2021 1:15:00 PM

How did I miss this wonderful, awesome poem?!! And your honor of a POTD? Mea culpa many times! Your metaphoric image is masterfully blended into your lines. Love the offsetting analogies in the second stanza and the last line - offset! Congratulations! Kudos! High Fives! Out of the park blessings to you dear friend!

John Watt
Date: 3/4/2021 11:52:00 PM

Thank you, dear Sam. Your enthusiasm is so contagious! I do so appreciate your uplifting comment, thank you. Spring Training blessings ~ John

John Hamilton

Date: 3/1/2021 7:59:00 AM

Belated congrats John on POTD, sorry haven't been around much but I can say this is a great write, so true in it's depth of meaning but at the same time a simple truth, loved this one!

John Watt
Date: 3/1/2021 5:24:00 PM

Thank you, my friend. I have not been around much myself so I totally understand. Thank you for the affirmation and poetry friendship ~ John

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 3/1/2021 6:49:00 AM

Love this. God bless you always, Love, Gina

John Watt
Date: 3/1/2021 5:23:00 PM

Gina, as always thank you for the blessing of your kind words and generous affirmation ~ John

Eve Roper

Date: 2/28/2021 8:12:00 PM

So very true, John, everything around us is poetry as an artist we can see and hear and put into words or canvas. Belated congratulations on POTD. Thank you for your visit on my poem, “ Harbinger Birds of Spring” and leaving a wonderful compliment and congratulation. Hugs Eve

John Watt
Date: 3/1/2021 5:12:00 PM

Yes Eve, the artist sees life through an artistic prism and always wishes to convert that into a long-lasting work of art. Sometimes it simply becomes a mental image to enjoy in our memories. I'm blessed by your thoughtful comment. Thank you, my friend. Hugs ~ John

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 2/28/2021 8:28:00 AM

I think that your poem is wonderful, I feel the same absolutely, I see poetry everywhere I go and sometimes the vision or memory of it is enough, but most times I personally like to translate and interpret it into a poem. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

John Watt
Date: 3/1/2021 5:10:00 PM

Thank you for the lovely and affirming comment, dear friend. I like what you say here about seeing poetry everywhere. Blessings and hugs ~ John

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 2/26/2021 3:22:00 PM

Congratulations, John, on your POTD. It is such a lovely poem..so profound. I agree with each and every line, especially the repeated one "all of life is a poem". Best wishes ~ Mala

John Watt
Date: 2/27/2021 2:02:00 PM

I'm so grateful you came by for a visit and left me your lovely thoughts, Mala

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/26/2021 4:51:00 AM

This poem reminds me conceptually of Shakespeare’s “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players;” Excellent John, and your ending couldn’t be more superb! Congratulations on having it honored for POTD! Blessings xxoo

John Watt
Date: 2/27/2021 2:01:00 PM

Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, Connie. That's a great Shakespeare reference that I hadn't thought of, but it does seem like parallel ideas. Hope your doing well, my friend