Letter To a New Poet

Dear Aspiring Poet, My name is Gershon Wolf. I am a member of this wonderful club called "Poetry Soup." Here are my views on the subject of poetry. 'Modern Poetry' -- It sure seems that modern poetry can be almost anything you want it to be: Shape poems, Question-kus, and other such forms proliferate. Just know that classic poetry--rhyme, meter, imagery, symbolism, etc.--still works. 10 Tips for Getting Started 1. Write what comes to mind. Get it on paper. (See #3). 2. Start with short poems, if possible: 2, 4, 6, or 8 lines. 3. Let the poem sit a bit, overnight if possible. 4. Read it again. Are you pleased with it? Yes? --Good! 5. If not, revise it. Try some imagery, change the rhyme, whatever... 6. Let it sit again. If still not satisfied, chuck it and start another one. 7. Read other poets on Poetry Soup. Read a lot of them. 8. Read great poets, such as Emily Dickinson, Edgar Alan Poe, O. Nash. 9. Key: Write so that the reader feels, sees, tastes, hears the poem. 10. Key: Describe, don't pontificate. Verbs > adjectives. Brevity > length What poetry has brought to my life: Poetry has given me a chance to express my deepest feelings by showing them, as opposed to editorializing about them. It has focused my thinking. And it has opened the door to many new friends! My favorite themes: Love, romance, marriage, and relationships, of course; Common objects, people, and events viewed from "a different angle;" Justice and injustice; Showing the "beat of a different drummer." Favorite Reference Resources: I'm not exactly sure what this means, but I use Rhymezone a whole lot, as well as googling synonyms for words. My five all-time favorite poets 'are' Emily Dickinson. (LOL! She's THE greatest!). 10 titles of my favorite poems that I've written: Love is July 10, 2013 Marriage is July 13, 2018 Why are there stars, Mommy? June 15, 2018 Prithee --- How? June 12, 2018 International Students in... May 13, 2018 The Class Clown April 26, 2018 Spring Sounds April 25, 2018 Cry April 15, 2018 Nobility March 22, 2018 A Harmless Creature January 12, 2018 My literary background: Basically zero. In fact, I refused to read poetry in AP English in high school when called upon by the teacher. Got a "D" last semester in that class. LOL. Shows that people change (a lot) over the course of a lifetime. I used to hate science, for example. Now I read "Scientific American" cover to cover! Go figure! OK, aspiring poet. That's the end of this letter. Good luck to you, and welcome to the first day of the rest of your life! Sincerely, Gershon Wolf