On the benefits of form

I haven’t written an acrostic since

Alphabet practice in school.

Mirroring examples in textbooks;

Noting the difficulty

Of finding words

That mean what you want to say,

And also words that fit the rules.

Poetry seemed less art, more discipline.

Older now, I realise rules are sometimes

Encouragement. It’s nice to know where

To start.

Disclaimer - this poem was first published on my Wordpress blog, but no-one there has read it since 2022, so I figure I'm justified in resurrecting it here! Let me know what you thought in the comments.

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