The Poetic Revolution

A poem's not just a collection
of words on a page;
nor should it have a connection
to literary rage.

Students poke and prod the poem
in bouts of wild frustration;
the poem, while it's poked and prodded,
cries out in desperation:

"Stop poking, prodding, punching
this poem that you're gleaning.
Your teacher has the wrong ideas.
Your minds, therefore, need cleaning."

Instead of trying to figure out
what the poem means,
we should begin to think about
how the poem seems

to float and fly above the page
to which it's been confined.
Ideas form with ease, not rage.
The students say "It blows my mind

that poetry can be so fun.
I really can't believe it.
We don't just find the meaning.
We invent it and achieve it."
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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July 4, 2018 at 12:11 AM
Hi Carolyn.. Back from a party and wide awake. Need me a few funny, mysterious, interesting, or mellow writes to settle me into a restful state. So glad I came across your poem tonight.. just what I needed!
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