G. C. Jeffers

I wrote the first version of this poem a few years ago. Since then, it has undergone some revisions.

* * *

Some say that poetic soul presupposes
musical intent.
But, musical intent intends
music.

Some say the sole aim of poetic soul centers
on a scintillating combination of color
as pictures.
But, pictorial purpose purposes
pictures.

Some advocate a free and open poetica
as simply soppy prosaic lines.
But, lined prose is just lying prose
pretending to resonate with the poetic soul.

A poem possessing the poetic soul
is simply words written, standing
alone, containing silent sound, unleashed
when pronounced, reverberating in human hearts.