Read the poem again and try to understand it.
If you succeed then you probably wrote it.
If you didn't write it then you misunderstood it.
Read the poem again and find that it means something totally different.
Decide that you will prove that the poem is rubbish.
Say out loud that the poem is rubbish and feel good about yourself.
Write a poem, note that no matter how hard you try it rhymes.
Read your poem and make some corrections.
What did you think of when you read your poem?
Was it what you wanted it to be?
If it was then it is a bad poem and you shouldn't show it to anyone.
It is likely to contain lines like, 'Red reminds me of??
Read your poem out loud.
Does it sound different to you now?
If it does then you may be back on track.
If not then give up and throw it away.
Hold a poetry workshop and read your poem to the rest of the attendants.
They wont like it because you wrote it and not them.
Feel embarrassed and leave the country.
Never write a poem again.
Years later find the poem you started off with.
Read it again and realise that this time you understand it.
Notice that you really did understand it to start off with.
Get annoyed and never read a poem again.
By Andrew Balmer
