IS that what poetry is all about? (EA Oct 7, Poet shows write way)

"Poems are merely writing stories." Really? I thought one called this prose. If Mr Hillier's statement were true then surely the great poets (Homer, Shakespeare, John Donne, John Clare, Keats, et al) would have never survived the centuries?

Among other things poetry must have structure.

Many attempts at writing poetry are made by people who have less than a passing acquaintance with what poetry is.

This is not snobbery but fact. Anyone wishing to write poetry must work at becoming increasingly adept at reading poetry closely, with faculties sharp.

I would suggest that Mr Hillier's printed poem comes under: "what is written without effort is in general read without pleasure" (S Johnson).

J Adams

Freshbrook