The First and Usually Unspoken Rule of Great Writing
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
The greatest rule of writing is to tell
A truth, the truth if possible, within
The scope of lines set out, to sound the knell
Of honeyed feelings, not commit the sin
Of telling things untrue, like showing men
As heroes always in a war or on
A horse, so boring, that is if no sten
Is cuddled in their hands, and only brawn
Defines their soldier souls. Blokes? For one truth
They stand. They are not made for women to
Desire in check-out novels. Those uncouth
Dishonesties are pukingly untrue.
It’s simple. Do not lie. Don’t swerve away
To falseness. Maintain truth in what you say.
~ Phillip Whidden