I am just an old woman who has read And written poetry for many years. It is like daily bread to me, Sustenance on which to feed And to fill a deep soul need.
Poetry is like the essential oil In an exceptional perfume, Refined down to its essence. A distillation to what is pure. It is the molecular structure, The scent of the blossom.
Its scent deeply impacts all Who are privileged to inhale it. Smell a high quality rose otto, Immediately you know it as a rose. You do not wonder what else it is. It is a note of singular distinction Because it has been distilled down To the very soul of the plant.
Good poetry makes you feel that. It does not rely on cliché, Nor unsophisticated childish notions. Poetry must not be superfluous. But must be succinct, the essence Of the feelings being expressed Without the fluff.
You must tear a poem down, Rewrite it, set it aside for a while Then come back to it with fresh eyes. Poetry is work and an inner struggle. We must be willing to give the time Each poem needs from our loving attention. They are our children, born of us, part of us. No child should go nameless, Each one deserves a name to be given it. We owe them nurturing as loving parents.
I was answering a fellow poet who asked a question that got me thinking of how to express what good poetry is made of. This poem came from my reply.