In this poem, proper sentence
structure will be followed.
For example, sentences will start
with a capital letter and end
with an appropriate punctuation mark.
Sentences will be grammatically precise.
Some will likely say that following
such rigid rules
will detract from the poem’s poetic quality,
but I’m not sure I can agree.
I’m also not sure real poems require words.
I italicize for emphasis.
For example, is an image held in the mind
of crying children, of thousands
of immigrant children separated
from their families at the border,
never to be reunited, poetic?
Is the image symbolic and evokes
strong emotions? Is it repetitive
and sick at heart?
Is the precision of language
of one’s internal dialogue
describing the image
what make it poetic or not?
Can a number be a poem
or at least poetic?
Such as the title of this poem?
I will never think of “45” in the same way again.
© Gil Hoy
Gil Hoy
Gil is a Boston poet and trial lawyer who is studying poetry at Boston University through its Evergreen program. Hoy received a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Boston University, an M.A. in Government from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He served as a Brookline, Massachusetts Selectman for four terms. Hoy’s poetry has appeared, most recently, in Ariel Chart, The Penmen Review, Right Hand Pointing/One Sentence Poems, The New Verse News and Clark Street Review.
Gil is a Boston poet and trial lawyer who is studying poetry at Boston University through its Evergreen program. Hoy received a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Boston University, an M.A. in Government from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He served as a Brookline, Massachusetts Selectman for four terms. Hoy’s poetry has appeared, most recently, in Ariel Chart, The Penmen Review, Right Hand Pointing/One Sentence Poems, The New Verse News and Clark Street Review.
