1 Everyday Poets

10 Chapter 1Poetry, my students come to understand, is not something to fear,but rather an invitation to participate fully in our everyday lives. Here,for example, is the advice of one student who entered the class convincedhe “could not ever write a poem”:Don’t Be AfraidWriting poetryIs not as daunting as it sounds.All you have to have doneTo write poetryIs to have lived.I’m alive,So I can write poetry.Anyone reading this is presumably alive;Therefore, you tooAre capable of writing poetry.Once you establishThat you are, in fact, alive,Your poetry may be governedBy your mood. If you’re hungry,For example, there’s an excellent chanceThat your poem will reflect your hunger.Some choose to be coy with their meaningsAnd highfalutin’ with their language(“Bubbles in an IV loitering” or“Museums mark their bodies down”)This is okay sometimes,But you don’t want to hideYour poem’s meaningFrom the reader altogether.Do you understand nowWhy writing poetry is not as hardAs you thought?Proof of life, mood, language:Three simple stepsAnd your poetryWill flowLike water.—Rob, grade 10