Ars Poetica

Day 26: "The Latin phrase ars poetica means “the art of poetry.” It’s been a tradition going all the way back to Horace for poets to write poems that lay out – whether explicitly or obliquely – some statement about why the poet writes, or what they think poetry is. Here’s a very recent example, and another that I had to study in school. Today, we challenge you to write your own ars poetica, giving the reader some insight into what keeps you writing poetry, or what you think poetry should do."

I've written quite a few on this theme already,  but there's always room for one more. This one developed into a kind of spoken word rap after the first two lines found their own rhythm and rhyme. 

Ars Poetica

It's a testing of the water too deep for conversation,
A wider way of sharing a solitary observation;
It's a different way of talking, a means of communication,
A revisiting of meaning, a more detailed clarification;
It's a journey towards precision, a fevered exploration,
A drive towards exactitude, through endless elaboration;
It's an ambition to be timeless, a hopeless aspiration,
A need to prove I'm worthy, a ridiculous affectation.

It's a way of rearranging words until they near perfection,
A silent reaching out with no risk of blunt rejection; 
It's a sneaky backdoor way of building a connection,
A hope that familiarity will obscure each imperfection;
It's a bridge to build a pathway from my timid introspection,
A step towards infinity, hopefully in the right direction;
It's a yoke I choose to shoulder, with no desire for deflection,
A discipline looked forward to, embraced with deep affection.


© Copyright 2026. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

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