how do i poetry?

greetings.

So I noticed that a lot of people are posting poetry here.

And me being me, I see people doing something cool and wanted to try it myself. Monkey see, monkey (try to) do, you know? But as I was trying my hand at my own little poem, I quickly came to the realization that I know absolutely nothing about writing poetry. 

I’ve read poetry before, certainly. I love it. Especially song lyrics, they’re my favorite. Sometimes they’re simple and sweet and perfect and sometimes they’re so strikingly powerful that they stick with you forever.

But, as amazingly skillful as I am at reading it, I’m not very good at writing poetry, as I mentioned. In fact, I don’t think I’m very good at speaking or writing in general. In BOTH Japanese and English. Even things as simple as these blog posts, I take far more time than I should to write them, usually rereading and revising them over and over again until I’m somewhat pleased with how the sentences sound.

I’ve always admired people who “have a way with words”, as they say. Poets and authors who write sentences that silently etch themselves into your mind, public speakers who passionately get their points across to listeners, those people who somehow always manage to say exactly the right thing off the top of their head… how do they do it? How do people just know what to say? Some of you here too, you’ve practically mastered the skill of writing or speaking and I admire you so very much.

Me specifically, I’ve always wanted to be well-spoken. Because I’ve struggled with speaking for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it has to do with the rush of horror and anxiety I get when multiple people(or frankly even just one person) are focused on me at once, or maybe it’s just a lack of academic skill, but I cannot talk. I mumble, I stutter, I say the wrong things… and far more often than I’d like, I totally embarrass myself. 

So I guess it’s not a problem with me not knowing how poetry works; it’s a problem with me and producing words in general. I guess that’s why I’m here. At Aoyama. Studying English. Besides, what would be the point of me learning how to write if I’ve already mastered it, right? 

P.S. I might(emphasis on MIGHT) try to post some weak attempt at poetry here later. Constructive criticism only please, okay thanksss:)