Be frank and do the poet a favour in the long run...

Villanelle : Paint no colours on plain words lest the poet stop(s) writing

Paint no colours on plain words lest the poet stop(s) writing
Out of fear for what he writes makes no sense to the wise reader
Can words of encouragement be best meted out unreviling

Tell no white lies under the guise of covert praise inviting
Better still no swill wallows under poems by suitor
Paint no colours on plain words lest the poet stop(s) writing

If you tell a poet what's wrong with his poetising
You'll do him a greater service than any imposter
Can words of encouragement be best meted out unreviling

The kind of heedless praise gushing will longrun prove crippling
That which soothes bolsters the ego comes from flatterer
Paint no coiours on plain words lest the poet stop(s) writing

Watch what the flatterer says it's self-compromising
See how he lures you back to his page as cunning visitor
Can words of encouragement be best meted out unreviling

If you learn to write with conviction not by ruse conniving
Two hoots will you give to thumbs up or down on what you proffer
Paint no colours on plain words lest the poet stop(s) writing
Can words of encouragement be best meted out unreviling

© T. Wignesan - Paris, December 19, 2018