Writing Poems by Arthur Thomas Ware

It is quite difficult to reveal to the reader how to write poetry because good poetry is more than simply 'something of the mind.' Unlike the limeric, where one simply matches sentence endings, good poetry comes from the soul.

Of course, in writing poems, the habit of ordinary, every day writing helps a lot. If you are a habitual writer - and I talk not here of business letters, or quick texted messages, but of the 'writing habit' - then the chances that you'll be able to write poetry will come more readily.

If the feelings that arise in you are strong enough, and you have a literary bent, the poems will come.

By Arthur Thomas Ware in 1972

The Candle

Oh, flickering flame that gleams,

And radiates such friendly beams;

Your colours splendid, rose, yellow, blue,

Dance around the soul of you.

We look into your wavering light,

Intrigued by how you warm the night;

One solitary candle, wax and string,

Yet melancholy, romance you can bring.

You move down your candle hours,

Just as we move down through ours;

When flame wilts, flickers, and is gone,

Does it, like man, move on, move on...?

By Arthur Thomas Ware in 1977

Ideas

Through hands words fall,

Body’s  means of heeding call;

Whence comes thought?  Who can say?

Higher plane, through brain of clay?

Do we select?  Do we take,

Ideas that we thing we make?

Like chocolate from a store:

Why, and what do we think for?

After a prolonged bout of hard work and even harder drinking this poem resulted.   It speaks for itself, I think.   

The Pledge

When red eyes meet reflection and you’re feeling so forlorn,

Teeth-cleaning hand doth tremble, oh, so early in the morn;

When vision is a cloudy fog, and you’re sitting shaking on the bog,

Feeling sicker than a dying dog – then you know you should leave off the grog

This morning came a message, now it’s time for me to tell;

That I should give away the drink, and dry out good and well;

Yes, the tom-tom drums decided and they sent this message through:

That a certain time of abstinence can be very good for you.

So your’s truly has decided to give the grog away,

And not a drop will pass his lips until the Firest of May;

So let there be now tempting hiss, of “Come on, laddie, let’s get on the piss.”

To alcohol, here’s a goodbye kiss, I’m giving it a total miss.

But never fear, my drinking friends, for I’ll be back quite soon;

Just a week or two, my hearties, just a half-phase of the moon;

So remember, mates, and mark the day, I’ll imbibe again on the First of May,

So save my place by Collin’s Bar - I’ll be coming back to have a jar.

 I hope you enjoyed these few brief words on how to write poetry.   Writing poems can be very rewarding, and very healing of the heart.

I wish you well in your own endeavours.

Keep smiling,

Tom