How To Be A Poet Poem by Jackie Chou

First, discard anything and everything
that designates you as a regular person.

That means no ordering pizza,
watching Jeopardy,
or any TV for that matter.
Not even the news.
No Stephen King novels.
Anything that can jinx your poetic spark.

There's nothing ordinary about being a poet.
Everything you do or say has to be original.
So quit closing your emails with 'Sincerely.'
Come up with your own fancy phrases.

Quit wearing black sweaters with blue jeans.
Put on some hand painted scarf,
to add an artsy-fartsy touch to your look.
Avoid cliches not only in your work,
but in your daily life,
your daily walk with your muse.

If you call yourself a poet,
you better act the part.