why i write bad poetry

I got this letter today okay, I’ll level with you I’ve received many letters over the years more than 27 English professors saying my poetry is just plain bad cause I don’t rhyme and don’t know how a poem is constructed I write back and say I don’t like my poetry either I tell them

It did not last long

at the beach kisses lingered for days did you think like I did you were my soul mate one day months later you disappeared all this time i thought we had forever love (December 28, 2021)

You are my lighthouse

How do you know when I’m falling You hand reaches out to me & I am always saved

Discontinued cell & texts

We had times that we wanted to last forever Without warning you changed your cell number I can’t hear your voice or read your texts You wanted more than I could give & left without a word –Jim Wortham– December 8, 2021

The ocean is calling me

It keeps calling, years later I slept on the beaches watching waves walking on white sand picking up shells Easy to sleep as sunset turned to darkness I was going to return to a forever life I returned to to finish college and tripped over life there and never returned During the nights while trying

The Risk

Is something saying take the risk Is it worth the risk to jump? It may be worth it This may change your life It’s okay if you ignore the inner tug It’s okay– you won’t know what is waiting on the other side But don’t trust flipping a coin, Trust yourself __ Jim Wortham –December

I never used a persona

I never knew being someone else when writing would help sell my writing I only knew to say my thoughts maybe this was a good thing or maybe it was a bad thing (December 7, 2020)

Reducing my Ego

I’m sure I once had a strong ego Maybe I was not always gentle I’ve learned to reduce my ego I’ve learned to greatly reduce my ego I’ve learned to let my ego disappear (December 7, 2021)

THROWING POEMS OVER BARREN RIVER BRIDGE

You ask would I really do that? Yep I did. My poems were raw & broken and letters from poets pushed me into depression. I wasn’t born with a golden pen I wasn’t born with words that sang like songs but I published books anyway. It may not be surprising for me to share with

SHE SAID, THE FUTURE OF POETRY DOES NOT INCLUDE ME

Yes, it happened this way. When I sent my first poetry book to poets, both famous and unknown I only heard from one poet. She was a very famous poet. She only typed a few words: THE FUTURE OF POETRY DOES NOT INCLUDE YOU. What can I say other than that did not make my