Storm clouds move in from the west
the stray cat sheltered eats from a bowl

I study how ballads and satires come to mean
more than words or rhyme

You can say a poet makes magic
a good poet serves a long apprenticeship
learning the tools of poetic craft

The etymology of ‘poem’ has a long history
from ‘to pile up, build, make’

Ancient poets admired for piling of words
and sounds and rhythm
something created in a pattern new
and pleasing

A change like the buildup of clouds
moving overhead bringing rain, snow
brought by the wind.

The poet is the wind who brings the new change
for those who feel and see and sense
music and magic.