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Expensive Words
By La Belle Rouge


It seems so easy,
words sliding onto the page
poetry flowing, like a broad river
bubbling like a mountain brook
Just the right descriptive phrase
or emotion provoking twist
Poetry almost writing itself
It comes as easily to the real poet
as taking the next breath
but poetry is precious and the poet
has paid a price for every word


No one writes convincingly of war
if they've never fought one or
experienced carnage and devastation
in their life as the result of war
To write of life, one must have lived
and had the heart broken enough
that the masks have fallen away and
forbidden thoughts can pour forth freely
Only lovers can pen the passion
heights and depths of love
and only the brokenhearted know
how to present the pain


So when you read a great poet
marveling at the gift or the talent
remember, there is no talent without truth
and the gift of life to the poet is pain
It costs something to write those
words that seem to flow like fine silk
and caress your mind and heart
Poetry is precious and each word penned
is purchased with time and suffering
Each word marks a scar on a poet's soul
That's why they never perish
these blood bought, expensive words



7-2-2003 La Belle Rouge

Music "Moonlight Sonata"