ivor .e hogg - Final Arbiters

I overheard by accident
a group discussing poetry.
It seemed they had but one intent.
To define it definitively.

I must confess I chose to stay
for they had piqued my interest.
I had to hear what each would say.
Which argument would prove the best.

The first to speak was for free verse
regarding formalist as fools.
His thoughts he said were too diverse
to be constrained by petty rules.

The next to speak spoke for strict rhyme
a writer of experience.
He thought free verse a waste of time.
Just scribbled words that made no sense.

The third man shook his head and sighed.
It seems quite obvious to me
That this small group cannot decide
what is or is not poetry.

For poetry can’t be defined
and every poet must be free
to write the way he is inclined
and please his readers hopefully.

He spoke authoritatively.
He was a man they could respect.
This they accepted readily
conceding to his intellect.

He stated his opinion thus
that poetry must live and grow
it’s up to everyone of us
to write the best way that we know.

And leave it posterity
to judge the works we leave behind.
Deciding on their quality.
We’ll all be dead and will not mind.

ivor .e hogg

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