POET'S CORNER by Jeff Hartzer
#008: January 2005

Poets Agree

With the world wobbling and spinning faster after the tsunami disaster of all time, resolutions for the new year have been slow in coming to me. These were somber holidays with too many endings. Time for looking ahead.

I think that many poets would agree that New Year’s resolutions simply GAG. Let’s say you resolve in this new year to take fifteen minutes a day to write in a journal. That would be a great resolution but for the fact that most poets/artists have a bit of the “born against” attitude in their very genes as poets. To set aside time to write makes it seem like a J-O-B. So please, if you are a poet, writer, or artist, DO NOT resolve in this new year to set aside a scheduled time for working on your craft. I’m just throwing in some reverse psychology for the rebellious.

A former Albuquerque resident came up with four simple things that he doesn’t even refer to as “rules” but rather as “agreements”. This man’s name is Don Miguel Ruiz and his Four Agreements have become quite famous. If you never write another word, see if you can make any of these four agreements with yourself.

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word. 2. Don’t Take Anything Personally. 3. Don’t Make Assumptions. 4. Always Do Your Best.

Truly agreeing to any one of these can be a a life-changing event. For more information, buy his book, The Four Agreements or visit his website at www.miguelruiz.com

Now resolve to do this one last thing before the “Year of the Monkey” ends and the “Year of the Rooster” begins on Febraury 9th, 2005 and attend our next POET’S NIGHT OUT at the AirDance ArtSpace on Saturday night, January 29th. Doors open at 7 p.m. for an open mike sign-in. Event begins at 7:30 and admission is $5.00.

Don McIver and Ann Applegarth are our two featured poets. See you on the 29th.

Jeff Hartzer
copyright 2004