part of making

in other words

it’s possible one could study creating,

reveal how sometimes the path is simple,

the sentiments familiar, the figures recurring

— templates worth emulating:

the finding of forms, the following of set formulae,

and learn, also,

of putting aside the well-known models, deciding, instead,

the answer, the refrain, the power expression

lies in pressing back on the relentlessness

of formulae,

but not so as to prevent

the song-like from sauntering

down these stately abandoned streets.