Write A Poem Every Day

Monument to great writers, Berlin.

Write A Poem Every Day
by Angela Lansbury

He asked a question, my 'young' son:
"How many poems have you done?"
"I've no idea, dear. I have lost count.
I'm sure that it's a large amount.

"I used to number every one
I piled them, dated, in a file
Until alas, my laptop crashed
Then I lost heart for quite a while

"I thought I ought to do something
From one thousand, re-numbering
I started at one, changed to songs
Then stopped that, 'cos I couldn't sing."

"Mum, write a poem every day!"
"Yes, I'll do that! I've lots to say.
On second thoughts, I won't, no way!
Another burden. Go away!

"I've made more vows that I can keep
Too tired to think, too tired to sleep
Follow more rules? Like school! Like sheep!
Go with the flow? I'm in too deep!

"You see the way I work. You see
I'm losing heart before line three
I think I'll make a cup of tea
Better you do it, dear, than me.

"The trouble is, I work alone
I get distracted by the phone
Hey! Give me a nudge on the phone -
We'll help each other - not alone!"

"But poetry's like health and wealth
Don't wait for help; do it yourself
Don't blame others, get on with it!
Not a tome, five minutes, one bit."

"Yes, take heart, I'll give it a try
Let's get it done before we die
A simple goal. It's short and clear
Three hundred couplets plus, each year!"
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury July 30 2017.
Please don't copy but please do share a link to my pages, on travel, and poetry, and this poem. Thank you so much.