How To Start Writing Poetry... Poem by Denis Martindale

The competition prize looked great, he puzzled what to write,
He wanted it to be first rate, stand out in black and white...
Not just look good there on the page, but something to recite
And even thought he'd reached that stage at ten o'clock that night...

Then off to bed, for blissful peace, to dream the time away,
Upon his bed to take his ease, but then he paused to pray...
For niggling doubts consumed his mind, his hopes began to stray,
Was there more treasure still to find, to make things clear as day?

He went downstairs and studied hard and errors made him shake,
So many that he must discard, reducing each mistake...
Such that the poem was transformed because he stayed awake,
Till, all at once, his heart was warmed by such a lucky break...

And that was how he won first prize, with judges quite impressed,
Because God opened up his eyes so faults could be addressed....
By faith, there's more to realise, by faith, we do our best,
By prayer, the Lord can make us wise, it's then we're truly blessed!


Denis Martindale June 2017.