The enthusiastic amateur prepares his masterpiece

The enthusiastic amateur prepares his masterpiece
by Reg Bowers

I wanted to write my own poem
I wanted to see if I could
I wondered if people would read it
I liked to think that they would

I picked up a pen and some paper
And some tea, just to help me think straight
And I wait for a brainwave to hit me
And I wait...and I wait...and I wait...

Then I think back to my education
Thought of what my English teacher said
Then I ponder linguistic devices
And that really starts hurting my head

I delve through uncharted caverns of metaphors

I scribble down similes like a madman

Struggle with sibilance

Pour over plosives

Iambic pentameter proves tricky

I even try repetition
Yes I even try repetition
Oh how I try repetition
But 'twas all to no avail

After several hours of struggling with words, I became so tired that, without noticing, I slipped into prose. This continued for a couple of long sentences until, awaking with a jolt, I noticed my error, and returned to the confines of poetry.

Then I tried to use repetition
But it didn't help

This continued for hours and hours
I just sat there a-scratching my head
My mind was all mumbled and jumbled
So I gave up, and made toast instead.