Who knows, and do you really know
If you wrote poetry or prose?
If you've read lots of poetry
When you write prose, strong feeling shows
But is it really poetry
With rhythm and with proper rhyme?
Did you count feet or syllables
Make sure each line took the same time?
A poem can be short, sharp, swift
Be a piece of propaganda
Unlike a smart, reasoned essay
Which should be an even-hander
I often see so-called poetry
Religious rant, or political
It doesn't sound quite right to me
Cut lines are verse, not poems at all.
Some people write a quick, loud rant
Whilst others moan and groan all day
if you've got no rhyme nor rhythm
Maybe you should write sn essay
If you are so fraught with strong thought
But lack time for punctuation
Don't foist muddled struggle on us
Send words to another station.
-ends-
