Basil Bunting's Advice to Young Poets

1. Compose aloud; poetry is a sound.
2. Vary rhythm enough to stir the emotion you want but not so as to lose impetus.
3. Use spoken words and syntax.
4. Fear adjective; they bleed nouns. Hate the passive.
5. Jettison ornament gaily but keep shape

Put your poem away till you forget it, then:
6. Cut out every word you dare.
7. Do it again a week later, and again.

Never explain - your reader is as smart as you.
--
Source: Basil Bunting Poetry Centre
http://www.dur.ac.uk/basil-bunting-poetry.centre/poems.quotes/quotes/

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