The soul of poetry is life, not letters,
However tempted you might feel to rhyme
Remember: dance your dance, for all the fetters.
Your poem must come from life, from concrete matters:
The 'soul' must be within you, ere you chime.
To learn to versify, learn from your betters.
Now, Master Shakespeare frowns upon the chatter
Of rival poets, minions of their time,
Whose numbers woo his love, but never get her
So, too, did Sidney envy those who blatter,
Oft turning o'er their leaves, their art to mime,
Until his Muse befooled all his trendsetters.
'Now, look into your heart, and write' what matters!
For you to ape the others is a crime.
Be true to your experience, and write better!
The soul of poetry is life, not letters,
However tempted you might feel to rhyme.
Remember: dance your dance, for all the fetters.
Be true to your experience, and write better!