Is a poet still a poet
If they do not write?

A journal gathering dust,
But a yearning to write.
Am I still a poet
Without my inner light?

MeganHaze

Poetess

Jun 6, 2026

June 2026

2026

Anger & Conflict - June 2026

Beauty & Aesthetics - June 2026

Dark & Scary - June 2026

Death & Mortality - June 2026

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Family & Relationships - June 2026

Fantasy & Magical - June 2026

Happiness & Joy - June 2026

Heartbreak & Loss - June 2026

Historical & Ancient - June 2026

Hope & Optimism - June 2026

Humor & Satire - June 2026

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Love & Romance - June 2026

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Philosophical & Intellectual - June 2026

Political & Social - June 2026

Sadness & Melancholy - June 2026

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Time & Nostalgia - June 2026

Transformation & Change - June 2026

War & Heroism - June 2026

World & Travel - June 2026

removed.-nrty

No one ever "becomes" a poet.  We are all poets.  It's just that some very few ever realize it.  And once realized, we become assigned to its vagaries for as long as our hearts beat, oozing and dripping with poetic expression

pureblood

A poet does not have to write in order to be called a poet.....it&#8217;s the thoughts and feelings that make a poet....

taliaferro-cessoix

Absolutely. Some poems take decades to craft and codify.

LoriJonesMcCaffery

Are your eyes no longer blue, just because you keep them closed?  Being a poet is a state of mind and being.  Writing is a nice display of that state, but it doesn't go away just because no words are put to paper. You can't not be a poet.

ryan-olearyuu

Picasso
" It took me a lifetime to learn
     how to paint like a child "

inder

For me being a poet is not to be able to write- 
But to be able to connect with my inner emotions and surroundings !

shruti-dadhich

One's words & thoughts make him a poet, & as these are alive I  you, & will always be alive, you are a progress forever!!!

MelissaRose

Absolutely!! It is the undeniable truth of YOUR soul. &#128158;

pradip-chattopadhyay

kayode-steve-adaramoye-esq

Gather the light and beam the light to the world!

luis-a-estable

This makes me think of a famous poet who once said, "You only feel a poet when you are writing. The rest of the time you feel like a fake and wonder if you would eve  write a poem again." Of course, I think I took it differently.

Denniswillis

Clearly not. Nope, nobody like that here. The rest of us never squelched a thing. And, oh, you must have your eyes closed too. Or be unwilling to see.

weeping-willow

The heart of the poet will always write, even in silence words flow through the mind, even though they are not written down. ;-}

DanRo

A Poet is not the one who writes. Almost every literate person can write. What is Poetry is the essence, glory we carry in our small intimate perplexings and antics, the doe eyes that the sky is clad in. A verbal poem in words is just a capable transcription of what you carry in your tremendous title &#8220;Me&#8221;. I am myself a &#8220;non-writing poet&#8221; as a true form; I do not like writing itself or having to do it just to keep it safe from &#8220;time&#8221;, it is my honour greater than of a king or celebrity that entails my Life, epiphanies, eyes, bare soles and kissing fingertips like leaves. When I reach my higher level of spirituality, I will just convey it through emotional telepathy to others.
This is one of the best things I can tell you when it comes to this truth, Megan. Hoped it reveals something in you :)

frances-e-mcclelland

Yes, Megan, you ARE a poet...in your heart !

Mialentia

Once you've written, you can't turn back. You're a poet, 100%!

breanna-evans

i'm published in two anthology books
i have my own site; i'm an indie-author;
i'm writing...but never asked myself
which's the niche do i belong

don't make from this such a fuss
in your body, soul, and spirit;
relax... a pause is welcoming...
does good to your own you;
you need nobody validation;
everything is inside you;
listen to your inner voice; &#129419;&#9997;&#128521;

Mohan

nestandbloom

You know in your soul if you&#8217;re a poet and it has nothing to do with a pen and paper. &#9829;&#65039;

francisco-a-ojeda

Interesting write. And, yes. You are still a poet if you do not write, as long as you can still say one. You can think of one without writing it down; remembering what you thought.

nalinee

Organized thoughts, views and observations is poetry in itself. Thats the inner light. Just to let them out, and communicate to the world, writing is required.

painfulbeauty

Life is a poem, all we can do is observe. If we have the art of being able to translate that into a shareable emotion, that makes us gifted with the ability to be a poetess. I promise you still have it, even when you lose that light, the journey to finding it again makes for an illuminating read. Don't ever let that stop you from sharing with the world.

Rob-bigfoot

Lovely. I have poetry running through my head all the time. The problem getting the damned stuff down on paper! Yes you still are a poet. Keep going!

allanbrunmier

Two thoughts here: a poet who doesn't communicate and one who doubts his inspiration. Also, syntax, can't have journal if you haven't written?

mary-anne-norton

You said the magic word yearning
Yes your inner light will.beam.through you're already thinking poetically nice pen blow the dust off your journal and get penning you've got it in you thanks for sharing

larry-schug

Poets are always writing poems; they just may not be on paper or ether.  Our lives are poems and people read us just as we do them.  You may just "be between poems" as they say.

Meagsanne

unpolished-ink

Your inner light seems to be burning quite brightly

vanessa-gatley

removed.-yl8q

TravelerTim

It is a simple matter (-;
For us who see through aesthetics eye's
The poetry of life shall never die!!!!

Gabriele

removed.-l1yz

Just by you putting it all down in ink says you are a poetess to me.:)

tony-anderson

DebraInSilence

Frannieraeburn1

E-E-E

chuck-kean

The answer is yes!!!
Haven&#8217;t been here in awhile myself.
Your candle will always burn 
Your heart will always yearn 
There&#8217;s always a lesson to learn 
There&#8217;s always a page to turn 

Inside there&#8217;s always a light 
There&#8217;s always a battle we fight 
And when the time is right 
You&#8217;ll be able to write

guy-scutellaro

ariana-solo

guy-m-del-vecchio

YES...YOU ARE...you maybe need a bit of inspiration...which really is all around you.  Y'know, I keep a running journal of quotes I pick up here and there I find here and there.  They'll inspire me from time to time.  You're still a poet/ess...but...WRITE...just keep on WRITING.  Even if you have nothing to say...sai...I have nothing to say.  Look around yourself, we have a big beautiful world that we live in...you WILL FIND SOMETHING!!!

don-5

Our inner light may flicker and grow dim but all the time you can think and write you a poet.

removed.-mmhq

Mil57Man

Akpovona_Ambrose-u847287

ellie-19

raghvendra-kumar-rawat

Poems can't be written with planning. It is poem itself  drives you to write.

rkane

I might love light, beauty and truth . I might have a very keen Eye as well! I might love words too. 
It&#8217;s putting the words together,  is the problem for  me. 
The odd poem flows,  but I can&#8217;t say &#8220; I&#8217;m a poet &#8220;
I could say I&#8217;d love to be a poet, and that would be true. I love poetry ! 
But I don&#8217;t think, I am. I&#8217;d just like to  &#8220;to be one ! 
Peace

removed.-sd15

That's a nice poem about you asking yourself if you're still a poet.

pquinton

You can always wannabe...
'little book of Wannabe Poems'

anne-denada

removed.-k5kp

Poetry always comes from within - the inner light. And you are not without inner light. You are still a poetess!

anpoorva

Ingeborg

You bet! One poem makes you a poet forever......

Balla1

anne-curtin

I believe every poet has asked themselves these questions - I know I have!

paul-james-woolley

You are a poet! You&#8217;re reflective & thoughtful with a soul to match

Mugerwa_Muzamil

Jobira

Because the light within is sleeping, it doesn&#8217;t mean you&#8217;re not a poet. Poetry is not about writing everyday but to let your pen free when she&#8217;s ready to dance or cry.