April 26, Napowrimo 2026. I awake on the last Sunday of the month to be asked to write my Ars Poetica – an explanation of why I write or what I think poetry is about.
I have the same reaction to this as when I’m asked to name my favourite band, song, cake, wine, beer, gig, or holiday destination – it’s seemingly impossible due to the numerable choices.
That said, I read Alexander Pope’s version (it was part of the prompt) and recalled the fruit of an inspiration from earlier this month and worked on that, then threw in a haiku to explain other parts of my reason
“The solid pow’r of understanding fails;
Where beams of warm imagination play,”
Alexander Pope
Paint the seed in tempera tones.
With precise chisel, sculpt the egg.
Pen the embryo with ink-wet nib.
Plant it cradled in the wombs of other minds.
This is why
One line of many,
A voice in silence screams; “Yes!”
My work here is done.
Missives & Musings 