On The Poet Poem by Raj Arumugam

1
Shakespeare and Kalidas and Homer
had no need to flaunt qualifications
so don’t trumpet so much of yours



2
in this kingdom
where one writes
there is no seniority, each is equal



3
it is not important to be a poet;
the thing is to bring the poetry



4
one may win titles
and may be crowned Poet Laureate:
but only time points out
the poet from the crumpet



5
none of your self
and none of your importance here:
just poetry, if you can,
poetry is all that’s needed



6
the writer who repeats
inaptly
word, phrase and concept read or heard
comes second-hand into a market for bad verse



7
one writes;
one does not fill one’s mind with the words:
I want to achieve



8
one writes and
the self disappears
and what is left is clarity



9
expand your understanding of the self –
it includes the world



10
if one had no coins
one cannot buy bread;
but not all the world’s wealth
can bring you poetry



11
celebrate your locality
but go beyond the parochial;
go beyond the region’s arrogance
to reach minds across cyberspace



12
the fool speaks of having
written the most number of poems in the world;
and the same fool speaks of quantity



13
we rarely succeed
if one does not go
beyond oneself



14
you wink, you twinkle
you want recognition;
you write and you publish online
and you want to win titles –
and so poetry eludes you always



15
a hundred titles, a hundred prizes
a hundred spots of fame
and international renown
all these pale, all pale
before a single line of luminosity



16
the ambitious write pathetic verse;
the lover yields
and poetry embraces such a one