Throw Away Poetry

how can i say this? what are the words i can use to tell you, without your feelings being hurt? people. there is a menu just to the left. near the bottom is a link which will show you the things good poetry should never have. they're called cliche's. though the list isn't final, and will never be because as times change, so do we and our language, poetry's a subtil thing. abstract. to explain it is beyond my means. But try this: let your mind wander a bit. don't lean so heavily on your memorized wit. i want to help you, i sincerely do and i'm trying to think while i write this to you just what i should tell you, what i need to say that will help you see language in a different way. rhymes come about 3 lines at a time or so. your brain should be thinking now of 3 lines ago. poetry is algebra though i don't know the theorem. here's an idea. put down the pen. pick up your mouse. start clicking peoples names til you see what poetry's about. start with chris aechtner. there you will see what the gift and the curse of writing poetry can be. he writes uninhibited. he doesn't mince words. he sets an example from which we can learn. you see, what creates most bad poetry is our fears and complexes distracting us. so, try, when you write to sort of meditate. separate from the world outside and create your own rules. . i'm a lousy poet too. don't feel bad, because i told you.