How Do You Make A Poem, Friends? Poem by Denis Martindale

How do you make a poem, friends? Is there some easy way?
Well, first of all, it all depends, on what you want to say.
And if it's for reciting, too, or just text on a page.
And if the text you're writing's true, or fiction at each stage.
For we can write of fantasies, or facts from history,
Or little limericks to please, or tales of mystery.

We could praise God with hymns and psalms, or sonnets now and then,
Or sentimental verse that calms, like David, way back when.
I know some write with complex thoughts nobody understands.
While others write their rhymed reports and simply take a chance.
I like to rhyme my poetry - it keeps me on my toes.
I write for you. I write for me. And others that God knows.

So, if I edit here and there, some phrases I remove
And Grammarly makes me aware of things I can improve.
If I get better year by year, some poems will be great.
If so, then these will bring me cheer, for these will never date,
Yet often shared from town to town in readers' hearts to stay.
The sands of time won't wear these down! The winds won't wear away!


Denis Martindale December 2019.