Christopher James Heyworth's Page

TWIN BESETTING SINS



that in reminiscence verse believing all childhood memories


are ipso facto interesting to everyone else – that site called





"The Buildings" locally, even as it stays a vacant lot here,


fifty years later, though our marble pitches are long gone.





And that credibility depends on reproducing every detail:


“Tommy Farr lost on points.  ‘He was robbed,’ growled Dad.”





I could not fathom how he knew from the crackle’n’hum


of the radio gleaming from mother’s loving dust and polish.





First collections of poems are often overlong and overwrought,


trying too hard to get it all in, fretful to be caught under full.




With the promising, and the adventurous are the frankly clumsy,


all in close proximity, sometimes there within the same poem.





Demonstrating love of reading other people’s verse often stifles


development of the poet’s own voice, a singular way with words.





For such ailments, so ruthless an editor may be best assistance.





By Duke Barrett (nom de plume); copyright C.J. Heyworth July 2009