A poet may scribble

As much as she can

Yet still will she fail,

Pen only drivel,

And only prevail

When  she knows herself first.

Forged by adversity,

Refusing to settle,

Discarding  her worst,

Sharing  her best,

Truth in her breast,

Testing her mettle,

From pretense she's free.

Fashioned by life

Tutored in strife,

In pain well rehearsed,

The artist's role playing:

Then, only then

Does she pick up her pen, saying

"Hear who I am in this verse!"

That's who I need

To read!