On Poets

When the tongues of the poets preach wonderful words,
and the echoes of nonsense from bodies are purged,
understand that the songs can’t breathe life on their own
before carefully learning to understand tone.

Like a thousand fine raindrops soaking the soil
in which Earth drinks in mixtures of beauty and roils
the benevolent gifts it receives from above;
better poets define for us purpose and love.

Neither practice nor smarts become virtues of song,
rather courage and confidence serve to prolong
the fine footprints of artists who wish remembrance
for their work and their legacy boast as legend.