When writing a poem, you mustn't fret,
Don't think about things that you mustn't forget,
Instead, find a line (one you like very much),
And fill all the gaps in with 'mustn't's and such.

A poem, you see, is a lot like a friend,
The type you can weather, and on whom depend.
Metaphorically speaking it's also a boat;
A tenuous one that needs rhythm to float.

A simile, too, makes a nice little change,
A comparison between the real and the strange,
But one is enough in each poem, mind you,
Since a surplus can tend to nudge meaning askew.

"Is rhyming required?" You might hear some ask,
The answer is "No!" but it easily masks
All the unrounded edges, the burs, and the stain
That was left when the sonnet leaked out of your brain.

Starting is half of the battle you face,
Once you’re done with that step, it’s no longer a race,
But instead an adventure, a journey of sorts,
To the furthest and strangest of lyrical ports.

The most difficult part is the finding of time,
And since one’s inspiration might come without chime,
If you take down some notes when you’re out and about,
You’ll have all that you need when your mind is in drought.

Don’t place too much value on terms long of length;
A good poem can do without them to give strength.
The true heart of a poem is not in its words,
But in how many people enjoy it when heard.

Above all, Remember: When writing things down,
Don’t aim to attain the ‘King of Poets’ crown,
Just write what you know, and believe what you write,
Because poetry’s not about getting it right.