The Eternal Argument

[billy]

if all we read is poetry inside greeting cards then that will be the standard by which we measure great poetry. often poetry in poetry forums is proof of this fact. while many read a bit of poetry in school, it's soon forgotten because it didn't seem important at the time. as for impressing the critics, i'm not sure i do or want to. i just want to be able to write really, really good poetry, i can accept i have as much chance of that as i have or running a fast 100 meters, but i can still try. i can write a bit better given time and a bit better is an improvement. good poetry is the only sign of good poetry i know of; being published, famous, outcast, or novice has no bearing the matter. most are lucky if they've read two or three books of good poetry. I wish I'd have had access when i was 7 or 8 to what i can access now.