Heartless Poem by Frank Halliwell

They said that I must write a verse
About the month of May.
They said that I must write 'Free Verse',
-That rhyming was passe'.

I have no quarrel with free verse
But I can not agree
That wanting for a better name,
They call it 'poetry'.

The black Crow has a strident call
A harsh, unpleasant thing,
But changing what you call the bird
Won't make the black bird sing.

In grace of flight, the Turkey is
A true inferior,
But calling it an Eagle
Will not make your turkey soar!

Just listen to your inner Muse
And not to those 'who know',
For if, in you, a poet dwells,
Your heart will tell you so!

Your rhymes must be a perfect match,
And metered to an art.
If you can't feel your poem's pulse,
Your poem has no heart.
o0o