Fraud, Part 2

Now, I understand that people do like to write when they get stressed, and poetry has a natural tendency (especially since the Confessional Poets from the Middle Generation a.k.a. the Icarus Generation started making confessional poetry mainstream) to turn into a life's ballad. And, let me say that it's fine to express your feelings. However, there's a difference between doing that and being a poet.

So just what is a poet you may ask? A poet is someone who can take those feelings and words and form them into a succinct form of movement--like that of a musician.

Aha! I had a light bulb in my brain.

This is the difference:

Being able to write: Poet
Being able to sing: musician

I like to sing, but I'm not very good at it (Jeff calls me Janis Joplin.) So, should I call myself a musician? Should I go start up a band and try to make it to the big time?

Uh, no!

So, just because I can write poetry in my diary and I think it's good does NOT make me a poet.

Dedication. Structure. Revision. Form. That makes a poet.