Thursday 15 May 2008

The Secret Key to Poetry


Poetry is a brick wall with a door that must be drawn in poetry chalk
The key to the door must be carved from the spine of a Stegosaurus
Secret handshakes and passwords are passed along in dreams
Dance steps required to enter: tango, hip-hop, waltz, ballet, belly dance, and the Sufi spin
In that order
Musical meters are a must: syncopation, adagio, saxophone improvisations, and country western
Mandatory forays into Virulent Villanelles, Shyster Sestinas, and Non-Returnable Nonnets. Eco-Haiku and High-Strung Haibun will not do.
Should you fulfill these requirements you may stand on line at the door. Yes that line. The one drawn in chalk.