Kurt Philip Behm

Copper Wire (+1)

Does your writing lack power,

 is it merely verbose,

as you labor line to line

 

Is the message red meat

or a vegan’s delight,

its essence so defined

 

Each word as an arrow

that strikes for the heart,

its tip to preordain

 

The strength of the meaning

abandoning all

—when destined to explain

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2022)

 

 

Surviving The Dream

 

I hate the business of writing

the commerce of word craft

the tedium of publishing

the deadlines imposed

 

I hate the word count

the editing and proofing

the book signing travel

and agents exposed

 

I hate the promotion

each workshop and fair

the reviews and the podcasts

the bookstores that sell

 

But I love the writing

when the words come together

releasing my spirit

—my fortune to tell

 

(The New Room: January, 2022)