What is poetry? Why does it matter?
What drives the writer of literature?

Is it a riddle to figure and solve?
Is it beyond what we can resolve?

Is it so deep that we can not fathom
All that is meant in that verse and pattern?

Sometimes the simplest is hardest of all,
And what we think big may actually be small.

Behind every rhyme and lyric and verse
Is a real person, with the same human curse.

They think and they feel so deeply on something
That it comes out in the form of writing.

A hurt, a grief, a cry of joy - all there;
Unexpressed perhaps, but for on paper

A way to let go, a way to hold on,
A way to get by, a way to go on,

A love song springing from deep in the heart,
Or vengeful hate with poisoned dart.

Whatever the feeling, when inspired in pen,
Can open our eyes with experience then.

We learn of ourselves, our griefs and our joys,
Of what we forgot as young girls and boys,

Of what we all dream, of good things to come,
As moments of nostalgia come.

What is behind the writing? Is it mystery?
Or is it just our thoughts - the hearts of you and me?

Is it hard to figure what the poet meant?
Sit and write, and you'll know of their intent.

http://www.davideyoung.com/Poems/BTP.html
Copyright 2002 by David E. Young. All rights reserved.