How Do Poets Get Their Ideas? Poem by Denis Martindale

How do poets get their ideas and simply write and write,
Dismissing all their doubts and fears and sharing day and night?
It doesn't matter what they've penned when editing's not done,
But this I tell you, as a friend, editing sure is fun!

It can transform the weakest phrase that first came to the mind,
It can enrich so many ways what some folks leave behind…
A comma here, a comma there, a comma there as well
And suddenly… an answered prayer… as things begin to gel…

But first and foremost, great ideas, a title or a line…
Then all at once, the dark mist clears and words pour out like wine…
Alliteration or a pun, some wordplay now and then
And finally, the battle's won… triumphant once again…

I've written thousands, I should know… I just begin by faith…
I'm confident and on the go… Determined and quite brave…
The last line may seem miles away… I haven't got a clue…
It matters not should I delay… I'm gonna make it through…

That's how I started even now… and I'm not finished yet,
But this I know, today, somehow… the ending I will get…
Erm.. how to finish? Just a sec… Think, think! Come on! What's next?
It's now that I'm a nervous wreck and feeling quite perplexed…

Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose… but friends, I won't give in…
It's times like these I need a muse… to add an extra spin…
For now, I'll struggle on alone… pretend it's going right…
Ring! Ring! I must answer the phone… Farewell, friends, and good night!


Denis Martindale April 2020.