WAHAT IS A POEM?

WHAT IS A POEM?

WHAT IS A POEM?
WHAT IS PROSE?
CAN A POEM BE HELD WITHIN THE ROSE?
CAN THE PROSE BE PART OF THE POEM

HOW DOES THE POET USE THE MUSE?
WHAT AROSE WHEN YOU READ THOSE WORDS?
WAS IT THE POETS INTENT
WAS IT PASSION BEING REFUSED?

I THINK THE POEM IS UP FOR GRABS
I WINK AT THE CRITIC WHO CHOOSES THE POET OVER THE POEM.
PERHAPS THE ONLY TRUE POEM IS THE INFORMING HAIKU.
YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO
THAT WHAT THE READER LEAVES BEHIND
IS WHAT HE OR SHE USUALLY FINDS SOME OTHER TIME.
IT CANNOT REMAIN HIDDEN ANY LONGER.
ITS WHY A SINGLE WORD ON A LIBRARY SHELF
CANNOT BE CONFINED TO A SINGLE BOOK.

A GOOSE IS A BIRD SO ARE LOONS.
I AM A POET BUT THERE ARE MANY
SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM CALLED BY A DIFFERENT NAME.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OR TWO:

I AM THE KNOT ON A SHELF MADE OF PINE
I AM THE GRAIN ON A SHAFT OF WHEAT
BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

I AM THE FLOWER IN THE VASE
BUT I AM NOT THE ONLY STOCK IN THE CASE
THE ONLY WORD IN THE LINE-UP.

THERE ARE SOUND BITES
THERE ARE PHRASES
THERE ARE FACES IN EVERY CROWD.
EVERYONE HAS EYES, MANY CLOSED.

EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT
EACH ONE CRIES.
TEARS FALL DOWN
THE FACE OF A CLOWN.

EYELIDS RISE, EARS OPEN UP
SOME CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO.
A HEART CANNOT CLOSE A MIND
BUT A CLOSED MIND CAN STOP A BEATING HEART.

A BREATHING CHEST HEAVY WITH DOUBT
CAN NEUTRALIZE BOTH THE POWER AND THE CLOUT
PUT THE ENTIRE FIRE OUT,
THOUGH A HIDDEN FLAME REMAINS IN THE EMBERS.

MEMBERS OF A DEAD POET'S SOCIETY KNOW THIS.
ALL THAT IS ASKED OF THEM
IS THAT THE POETRY IS READ BY THE DEVOUT.
A LISTENER WHO COMES WITH AN OPEN MIND.

A PERSON WHO ENTERS THE ROOM
AND ADDS A LINE OR TWO.
DOES NOT SINGLE OUT THAT WHICH HE NOR SHE
CAN UNDERSTAND

BUT LETS IT LIE WHEREVER IT LANDS.

AHO!