W. Somerset Maugham suggested
that there are three rules for writing
a novel, but no one knows what they are.
I suppose the same could be said
for writing poetry, with a twist
for there are three rules for this
as well, but everyone knows
precisely what they are not.
Writers and poets must be rebels,
writing what must be said
and damning the consequences
for if it need not be said, rest
assured no one will opt to read it.
The same goes for words; use
only those that need to be
on the page or screen and ignore
any that lack that necessity.
Your writing may not be better
but at least it will be shorter and
that is a good thing a reader will say.