There are words that a poet must not use.
Do not write with breathless, aching, passion
About your heart, except perhaps to describe
A cardiac event. Be clinical and precise.
Shock is a sure symptom of original genius.
Color is out. Virgil's not green anymore,
And those sorts of tricks will make editors see red.
In order to fit in, you must say something new.
Reworking older work is so passe.
Leave that to fogeys like Milton and Rossetti.
Heirloom words are too tarnished for everyday use.
Polish them on holidays if you must. Otherwise,
Keep your grandmother's silver in its case.
There is no meaning left for words like grace.
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