My favourite poet is Khalil Gibran
But I must admit the Lyrics of certain singer/song writers have some impact on what I write,

Krisstoferson
Cohen
John Stewart

Influnce, but not in the way I write or the subjects I write about.

Thanks
Bernie.

Hi Maipenrai,

Difficult to say who might have influenced my writing. I think probably quite a few poets I've read probably creep into what I write somehow - if only subliminally. I think it's a good thing to read as widely as possible if you are going to attempt to write poetry - even those authors you don't necessarily like. At least you will then be able to assess what works and what doesn't for your own writing. I haven't ever (consciously) tried to imitate anyone else's style. Some poets I've read, although they have a very large volume of work behind them, I don't necessarily like all of it.

It's probably easier to say who I like/admire as poet/lyricist. Of the lyricists and musical influences I always rated Bernie Taupin, Al Stewart (esp the "Year of The Cat" album), Eagles and Doobie Brothers and all of their various offshoots, George Michael on a good day, Carole King, Carly Simon, Sting, most of the Motown stable, Crosby Stills Nash & Young - I could go on forever I guess.

Out of the poets, (in no particular order) Frost, Coleridge, Betjeman, Auden, Larkin, Heaney, Dylan Thomas, Owen/Sassoon/Brooke, McGough, (I've just noticed there are no women poets in my list - that's awful!) Angelou etc, etc, etc. I can probably find smidges of things I like in most of the poetry I have read. As to whether it has influenced me - maybe you should ask my shrink.

Regards,
A.E.

Hi Anthony
Have you read much by Langston Hughes?
Whilst I would not be able to understand everything that he lived through, and wrote about, he certainly gave me the idea that if I wrote about those things that I find important, or have knowledge of, it may be of some worth.
Every time that I think I may have written something half-worthwhile, I pick his book up, and accept my situation.

Cheers
Steve M.

certainly for me my biggest poetry muse has gotta be Charles Bukowski as I love the way he puts dialogue into his poetry

I do listen a lot also to the lyrics off Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon / Red House Painters) in particular the lyrics from his last few albums simply because I love the way he looks deeper than a lot off song writers... Wish I could sing like him thou - lol

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows.

Say no more?

Wake up in the morning light,
feel that something isn't right.
Reach to touch your face,
and all I find's a cold empty space.
Don't understand the reason for.
this waiting at the door.
All that you leave me is alone.
A hasty note you'll soon be home.

If you're, gone in the morning
you'll be gone tomorrow night.
You're never near me in the daylight.
When the darkness is descending
Mr Moon is tuning bright,
you only want me every night.
You only want me every night.


this is part of a song I wrote 15 years ago. Thought about turning it into a poem, but can't, and realised that I don't want to. And also, because of the rhythm and beat of the song.

any ideas?