On Writing a Verse Novel

Absolute despair kicks in for

Me, trying as I am

To write a full novel.

If I break prose up

Into arbitrary lines, I will

Be able to print a

Full book. Maybe people enjoy

Free verse because of the

Abruptness. But, I do suspect

That we free verse poets

Are ultimately a lazy bunch.

 

I’m writing in rhyme

With a highly specific artistic mission.

But, I sometimes want a

Break.

 

Plus, it’s so bloody

Hard to get short pieces

Formally published. You need one

Hundred or more pages for

A book. I’d prefer more.

 

Poetry can come either from

Sheer perfectionism, or from sloth.

 

Sometimes, because of my self-

Imposed rule of five words

Per line (except for when

New stanzas are needed), I

Sometimes accidentally create good points

Of emphasis. Alright, that’s enough.