[ On Poetry ] Work In Progress

Work In Progress  
 
I always loved the sound of the acronym WIP.  
It sounds like an idea becoming, or a recipe,  
"I'll just w(h)ip that up!"  
 
Same applies to a human, and especially a poet.  
 
"I might be anywhere  
from gifted to somewhat  
skilled at writing poetry"  
 
Technically, the assonance of  "i" & "o" combined with the consonance of "wh ( add the wr from 'writing' phonetically ), and alliteration of "somewhat" and "skilled" is a dream to read. You are truly a master of cohesive verse through sound repetition. It's like a pattern of rain falling on the roof. Philosophically, I think both gifted and skilled go hand in hand along the scale of development. Of which you exceed.  
 
"but as a person  
who's mainly spent time  
in the company of his own  
thoughts and personalities  
rather than actual people  
for over forty years"  
 
I love this personal glimpse of yourself following the poetic offering of structure, because it links the poet to the poem. It inserts a personality into the poetry. But, mostly, it's naturally said, about as free and solid a stanza as you can get without lacking cohesiveness.    
 
"I can honestly say  
I am a work in progress  
not likely to be finished  
in this lifetime"  
 
Here's where you take the previous two verses and combine the personal, the structure, and the essence from them all into the pivotal point of the poem. The consonance of the 's' and assonance of 'i' are a masterful repetition of skill from the first stanza. It loops it back home to technicality but with the personal aspect vs poetic definition.  
 
I Love how you leave it open to interpretation and continuance through the nonrestrictive vision of more than one lifetime. That we are all continually becoming.  
 
"I'll gladly admit to  
my writings being flawed  
and having room for improvement  
for poetry is  
one of the few things  
that comes naturally to me"  
 
This is where you once again combine the poetic and the personal aspects of writing. Which, by definition are inseparable; however, by application is difficult to entwine without the ego staring the reader in the face. Again the masterful consonance and assonance is skilled beyond compassion, especially that of "improvement" and "poetry". Domino effect. That's what it is! It starts off the the 'L' and knocks over the 'a' that knocks over the 't' and so forth. A perfect Domino effect across the mind and tongue!  
 
The first three lines are sticking out to me. As if they could perhaps fall better. But, as with all your work, rearranging, replacing, or simply deleting one word has a butterfly effect on the stanza, and subsequent verse. Therefore, one ( or, at least I do ) has to think very carefully ( and ahead ) on that chessboard before making a move.  
 
"If everything else did  
I probably wouldn't be writing it"  
 
Out of respect for repetition ( and the game of dominoes ), technicality aside. Philosophically and personally this kicks ass as a solid Truth in all our lives. We gravitate to what feels natural, especially ART. That energy draws us magnetically as though a part of it - which we are, I have no doubt.  
 
As everything is energy comprised of atoms all vibrating about in their respective formations. It's no wonder that some recognize others as kindred respites from the world of solitude and misunderstandings.  
 
W(h)ip it. W(h)ip it good. :D

I had to revisit Stanza 4 because it was simply not the truth.  Writing came as natural as drawing, but only to a certain degree and then I had to work my ass off to improve at both hobbies. Especially if I ever wanted to reap a financial reward from sharing them. That means giving others their money's worth of entertainment or product, even if I'm giving free access to my work.  
 
Hopefully it provides more contrast to Stanza 5 now and better reinforces the message of the entire poem.

As for my assonance, consonance and alliteration - I'm not sure if that is a gift or blind luck. Either way, that aspect of poetry seems to come natural to me whereas others such as metre don't.

You're good with song lyrics - which are typically meter and rhyme. Except you use the rhythm of the poem. So, in essence, I feel that your poems are somewhat musical in nature in their ability to flow through the indirect half-rhymes of all the above. ( Not sure I said that right? )

"It's only after years of  
blood, sweat, trial and error  
in a self taught process  
that poetry nowadays is  
one of the few things  
that does come natural to me"  
 
It begs the old question, "Can anyone create 'art' with dedicated study and practice"?  
 
In one aspect I'd say yes, as the definition of art varies per individual. However, creating things is not the same as creating art. It would seem to me that your blood, sweat, trial, and error have honed a natural ability to produce in a disciplined structure of improvement. Verses, say, someone like Kincaid ( *cough painter of light cough* ) in his mass productive styles of simply rearranging colors, shapes, and mainly bridge designs.  
 
Was/is it art? Yes. ( Here's where I completely avoid the "It makes money don't it?!" debate.) In the broad definition it's art. But so is the cheap print at the dollar store.  
 
I know people who've worked all their life in the business, but they aren't poets despite how hard they try.  I believe it's because it doesn't come naturally. Like a bad actor/actress who works their fanny off, but still can't act because it's not natural to them, like, say, Depp or Pitt.  
 
So what is natural? Could it be a combination of both the application of hard study and receptiveness, that Art, as it's own separate entity, Creating itself virtually through a tangible Creator that is the Artist? Is this what separates Creating things and Creating Art? Things being born of ego, and Art being Sourced inspiration beyond self?  
 
I believe so. It's the shining white line that divides the two. And for you, by virtue of humility and the vulnerability of this verse ( in addition to your vast body of work ),  are an open receptor of a "Natural Source" that's been honed through dedicated commitment to the study and surrendering of ego to the beauty that is Art.  

I can relate to this, art and poetry being one of few things that comes natural, and becoming a go-to often in that case, I used to draw too, and people would envy my ability, but if they only knew the struggle...... This brave confessional conveys well the artists condition.....

Howdy, PR! I used to hate it when people said I was gifted at drawing and later, writing. It made it sound as thought I was being given a headstart in a footrace. A handicap. And maybe that's truly what being gifted is; the gifted ones needing more help to cope with other aspects of life. I feel like I'm writing another poem .......

I feel like I'm writing another poem .......  

o O!!!

I always think of my creativity as being like a rock in my shoe, people see the strife but they never understand not believe the cause, and this misunderstood condition gives me even more to write about, it's a vicious circle this way, but it also forces me to improve myself....

Aren't we all works in progress? Otherwise, there's no point in doing it anymore. This has a casual feel, plain-spoken, but there's still poetry in the reading.

I get a bit hung up on "natural" because I really want it to be "naturally."

Behold the power of suggestion: It's only "natural" for you to want it to be "naturally".

And thus it shall be. :-)

I enjoy your writing -- I see the careful craftsmanship at work, in the sound and the smart choice of end words of each line -- very honest moment portrayed. Thanks for sharing :-)

a body of work
of progress (progress: the flight, not the story of beginning from scratch, but of progressive poetry).

humility is striking.