HOW TO BE A POET
(to remind myself)
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill — more of each
than you have — inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
There are only sacred places
And desecrated places.
— Wendell Berry from Given New Poems
The following pages of poems were written
in reply to the question...
I have no fancy idea about poetry. It's not like embroidery or painting or silk.
It doesn't come to you on the wings
of a dove.
It's something you have to work hard at.
~ Louise Bogan
Poet's Corner
