WHAT MAKES A POEM GOOD?

1. FRESH IMAGES

A POEM SHOULD BE PALPABLE AND MUTE

AS A GLOBED FRUIT.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

2. VALUABLE INSIGHT

DEATH, THOU SHALT DIE.

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF FUN.

2. MUSIC THAT DOES NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO ITSELF

SOMEONE AT A TABLE UNDER A BROWN METAL LAMP

IS STUDYING THE HISTORY OF POETRY.

JUST TO BE TENDER, JUST TO BE TRUE,

JUST TO BE GLAD THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH.

WHAT MAKES A POEM BAD?

1. SENTIMENTALITY

HOW DEAR TO M Y HEART WAS THE OLD-FASHIONED HURLER

WHO LABORED ALL DAY ON THE OLD VILLAGE GREEN

HIS ART IS ECCENTRICITY, HIS AIM

HOW NOT TO HIT THE MARK HE SEEMS TO AIM AT.

2. RHETORICAL, OVER-BLOWN LANGUAGE

I LIKE TO SEE IT LAP THE MILES

AND LICK THE VALLEYS UP

BREATHES THE MAN, WITH SOUL SO DEAD,

WHO NEVER TO HIMSELF HATH SAID,

THIS IS MY OWN, MY NATIVE LAND!

3. DICACTIC PREACHING

SO KEEP YOUR MENTAL BALANCE

WHEN CONFRONTED BY A FOE,

BE IT ENEMY IN AMBUSH

OR SOME DANGER THAT YOU KNOW.

WHEN I HAVE FEARS THAT I MAY CEASE TO BE

BEFORE MY PEN HAS GLEANED MY TEAMING BRAIN.

BE DYNAMIC