Trade Secrets

You more than likely have noticed
That my poems don’t rhyme.

If that bothers you
Please write a poem that does.

The world needs more poems,
More than we need so many things
That demand our time and energy.

Write a poem.

I’m even going to let you in on
A little trade secret
To help you out.

Don’t try to rhyme the first line you write.
Pick the easy rhyme in the line
And rewrite that line with the easy rhyme
At the end of the line.

And if you still get stuck, just
Pick eight easy rhyming words
And eight more words that rhyme
And write sixteen lines
Ending with those words.

Trust me, you’ll make something.
If not a work for the ages
At least a good pop song.

But beware: You are making a commitment.
Because shaping our words to echo reality,
Versus shaping reality to match our words
Is not a decision to be taken lightly.

September 2025