Wendell Berry: How to be a Poet

Reading poetry is probably one of the most important things a writer can do. Actually, reading good poetry is important. There's a lot of it and one shouldn't have to look too far.

However, when you combine good poetry with great writing advice, well, you're onto something.

In Wendell Berry's poem How to be a Poet (To Remind Myself), he marries the musical flow of poetry with good advice.

As a note, I found the poem below in a weekly email I get from Brain Pickings. I highly recommend signing up for this email. It's fabulous.

HOW TO BE A POET

(to remind myself)

Make a place to sit down.

Sit down. Be quiet.

You must depend upon

affection, reading, knowledge,

skill – more of each

than you have – inspiration,

work, growing older, patience,

for patience joins time

to eternity. Any readers

who like your poems,

doubt their judgment.

Breathe with unconditional breath

the unconditioned air.

Shun electric wire.

Communicate slowly. Live

a three-dimensioned life;

stay away from screens.

Stay away from anything

that obscures the place it is in.

There are no unsacred places;

there are only sacred places

and desecrated places.

Accept what comes from silence.

Make the best you can of it.

Of the little words that come

out of the silence, like prayers

prayed back to the one who prays,

make a poem that does not disturb

the silence from which it came.