Poet

Thank you for patronizing my poetry! I’m an invoker, a satirist and social justice poet. My favorite topics of discussion are Religion, Culture and Politics, in that specific order. Every debate starts with relativity and is eventually settled, when it comes back around to the underlying universal truth. I’m curious to a fault and utilize poetry to discover and explain the purpose and meaning of life through the human experience and condition.

Why Poetry
Plato argued that poetry is morally suspect and should be expunged from a perfect society. However since I don’t live in a perfect world, I’m going with Aristotle’s rebuttal that creative endeavors like poetry and drama provide the beneficial purging of emotions through the performing arts. Writing is therapeutic for me and sometimes, I’m pleasantly surprised, when a simple theme morphs into a masterpiece. But all kidding aside, the motivation behind poetry is that poets still believe, we can fix the world, and make it better, one person at a time.

Writing Style
My poems contain symbols, metaphors, satire and the occasional cliché. Since I’m not a Purist, I write in a free-verse and social commentary style. I’m an idealist at heart, so in the interest of time and in order to convey the message, I employ ambiguity as a poetic device to fill in the gaps. In layman terms, this allows the reader to determine his/her own conclusion. Because at the end of the day, people only see, what they want to see, and close their eyes to the rest.

Poetry Tips
Try to be concise in your writing and remove as many redundant words as possible. Do not give into the temptation of going off on a tangent, in order to create a subplot or minor point; stay on course, you’re a specialist not a generalist. Remember that a short poem is more to the point than a long winded one. Avoid using adverbs and adjectives that don’t add necessary color or tone to your statement. If an expression doesn’t make an impact after adding a modifier to it, does it really need it? If you are using a metaphor, it is not necessary to define it. It is better to be ambiguous, then to have to explain your plot with a simile. A hook is more important, then rhyming words. Always maintain your integrity, by being authentic with your feelings. If you are the protagonist or antagonist in your story, do not switch sides (stay in character), otherwise you will be perceived as incoherent. Do not transition your voice, or play the devil’s advocate, unless it is necessary for the moral of the story. Do not become discouraged if your poetry is not well received—most of mine are base hits, home runs are few and far between.

Poet for Hire
If you are interested in getting a fresh perspective on your manuscript, I am available to proofread, edit, critique or collaborate on your poetry and articles (Please email for cost). In order to familiarize yourself with my writing style, feel free to read the posts on my blog. Please note, that I use Microsoft word exclusively in my writing. Before submitting a manuscript for consideration, please read the recommendations and best practices listed above.

Restrictions
When requesting a poem, please bear in mind my writing style. I reserve the right to deny any concept, and may alter certain themes, due to the nature of the writing process. Please note that I’m not well-versed in subjects and topics that are taboo, indecent or against my Christian-core beliefs. Regarding copyright, any poem that I create, becomes my property regardless of whether, I used a patron’s ideas. I encourage everyone who likes my poems to post them on social media and share them with family and friends. Kindly include a by-line under the title: By: elroypoet.com © 2022 (reprinted with permission). I sincerely thank you for visiting my blog.