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Welcome to But Does it Rhyme?
We're a small, but hopefully growing, band of poets who like to talk about our craft and share what we've written. We'll highlight favorite poets, review new books, and explore the process of writing poetry from inspiration to conclusion. (We might venture into essays and short fiction, too.) We hope you'll like our blog — and contribute your own thought and poems.

Sally Zakariya, Poetry Editor
Richer Resources Publications

Charan Sue Wollard (LivermoreLit)
Kevin Taylor (Poet-ch'i)
Sherry Weaver Smith
(SherrysKnowledgeQuest)

books
Richer Resources Publications

 

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Let the Poem Breathe

I don't often go to poetry readings, but I recently took part in an open mic at a bookstore not far from my house. Years ago I used to host a poetry night, and the one I just attended reminded me of something I had noticed way back when.

Many poets have a tendency to read their stuff at lightening speed. I’m sure they don't do that when they read to themselves, but they do in front of a crowd. Perhaps it’s nervousness. At any rate, it deprives people in the audience of the chance to create the poem in their own minds. I read at a snail's pace in comparison. The poem breathes. It lives. It actually thinks.

I am a poet, but it requires an audience to create poetry. And an audience of one or many needs time to create. Imagine watching a movie at double speed. Not good. My recent reading had the audience sitting with their jaws dropped. Whether they got the poetry or not, I knew I had their undivided attention. Anyway, I know they got something because they crowded the table to talk to me at break. So if you don't already, make the time and take the time. Your work will arrive better.—Kevin Taylor

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The Morning Rush

For a different look at speed, grab your coffee and read this poem:

Rush Hour
By Hajjar Amr


Eight o’clock in the morning and the sun is up
the morning rush has filled the streets
nose to nose vehicles so wildly colorful
the throes of glares—blares—weaving and streaming
I love all of it and get high grazing on
flocks and flocks of people rushing to unlock the day
the crisp collars—the sleek skirts—noses stuck in air
ah! a burst of laughter here
oh! you so grim now—grin now!
stop and go at the changing green—orange—red lights
the coffee stores on the side streets steaming with
aromas of hairspray—eau de cologne—shower gels
yet the coffee beans confidently over and above
brewing hot strong caffeine spouting delicious aroma of
the wake-up nectar of gods of all good things for the day
waking sleepless minds—tired bodies all in a rush

Hajjar Amr is a Virginia-based lecturer, spiritual leader, and published poet.

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Grow a Month of Poems

Happy National Poetry Month! Instead of April's flowers, why not grow a poem a day as spring takes hold? If this seems daunting, perhaps consider trying to write haiku, only three lines. While haiku classically had five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five echoing in the third, as writers in different languages have adapted the original Japanese form, poets have not necessarily followed this rule.

So take a spring walk, look for nature's inspiration, and pen some lines. Finding a poem can be as simple as watching your son or daughter, a moment that struck me:

early spring morning
running up the hill to see
the mountain beyond


You might even find that it’s habit forming.—Sherry Weaver Smith

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Read a Poem-a-Day

For even more poetry inspiration during National Poetry Month, sign up for publisher Alfred E. Knopf's Poem-a-Day. Just enter your email in the left sidebar at this link to make poetry a daily habit in April.

The publisher is even running a haiku contest, so if you do create a portfolio of haiku, pick up to five of your best. Then, send them to KnopfHaikuContest@gmail.com along with your email address by the end of April. Winners will receive Knopf's latest compilation of classic haiku poet Basho's work, Moon Woke Me Up Nine Times: Selected Haiku of Basho, translated by David Young. For details see this site. Check out the great artwork on the cover of this volume.—S.W.S.

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What Are You Writing?

Why should we get all the bylines? Submit your latest poem—just one for now—and we’ll publish the poems we like best in an upcoming blog post. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know if the poem is accepted or published elsewhere. Send your poem, plus a few lines about yourself, in the body of an e-mail message to:

            poetryeditor@RicherResourcesPublications.com