When I was in high school, I had a very narrow view of what a POEM is, i.e. a POEM has rhyme and meter. Otherwise, it may be poetic, but it’s not a POEM. This is one of my favorite poems I’ve written in response to my High School English Literature teacher encouraging me to expand my definitions.
There’s something strange about my poems
It happens every time
That when I sit to write my poems
They all seem to have a couple strategically placed words that sound pretty much the same.
Some say I should open up
And try to write some prose
I don’t see why in my business
They have to stick their breathing apparatus centrally located on the face between the eyes and the mouth.
But just to show I’m versatile
I’ll give their prose a chance
I will play their little game
I’ll do their song and rhythmic bodily movements sometimes choreographed and often to music.
As you can see this poem here
Has neither rhyme nor meter
And I did it on my own
For I am no person who uses dishonest and deceptive means for personal gain often at another’s expense.
This prose is not so difficult
It comes to me with ease
They who mocked me once before
Will now bow on their bending joints located between the calves and the thighs on the leg.
But now I think I’ve had enough
This prose is not for me
I think I will turn again
To writing poetry.
MAD Publications 