How to write a poem

Begin with your innermost beliefs and still incomplete observations,

the ones you mean but cannot just say

Read your own mind like a song book,

listening for the music notes and the sounds

Express yourself in fluid form,

using metaphors and smilies to speak to what is and what is not

Act as an intermediary between your conscious and subconscious;

speak directly and indirectly all at once

Keep yourself concise and your poem short;

this isn't an essay -- it's just an idea

Time is a deceptive thing;

pick words that linger in the air and transcend time

Have a concept that sticks and resonates with the reader;

you want to be reread and reread again for content

Explain clearly and never second-guess yourself--

let the phrases stand alone and speak for themselves

Read your own words for what they mean to you,

but know that what you write could mean more to someone else

Understand your concept thoroughly

but make it abstract when you write concisely

Love your poem

but tear it apart when you edit it

Expect that someone else will understand it

but know that words cannot jump from the page to explain themselves

Success is in the eye of the beholder;

be free of the rules and expectations

Obnoxious is the reader who corrects your grammar

Futile is the effort for complete perfection

Poetry should be an outlet for your creative side;

be bold and have no fear

Remember why you chose to write your poem;

try to stay on point

Operate under the assumption your reader knows nothing;

choose words that are clear

Say a lot, but write a little;

poetry is a powerful art form

Enjoy the process --

it can be a lot of fun