Quatrains of Pain

There is a pleasure in poetic pains
that only poets know,
they feel the stresses pulling strains
as words in ink come slow.

Iambic feet to build the lines
in groups of four and three,
the verse, it seems, the pen confines
when writing poetry.

Old William Cowper's short blunt line
that speaks a truth to me,
to sweet torture I shall resign
in verbal craft for thee.


© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.