Can you give me some advice on how to return to writing poetry?

I could do with some myself Mr Tom.

I've tried and failed

so I boarded a boat and sailed

to see my old mate

on an unannounced date

he lives in Forth Worth.

I sailed by boat, why?

because I'm too scared to fly

now you know

why I didn't go

by airplane.

Just do it. Turn off the Internet and all other distractions and just do it.

Statistically speaking, the best way to have your poetry get better is to die, but that's really going out of your way.

In the mean time Sir Thomas, just write. Be courageous and brave, adventurous and clever, sincere and witty.

Out of the overflow of the heart...

Read, Thomas, Read. Try American Life in Poetry. It''s online, it's free. Over 700 contemporary poems.

Read a lot of poetry, of all styles, from many different time periods and cultures. That often fires up the "writing" part of the brain.

Also, get some books of writing prompts such as "The Practice of Poetry" by Robin Behn and Chase Twitchell (be careful, there are other books with the same title, so check the authors' names when buying it or borrowing from the library), and do some of the exercises in the book. That will probably give you some momentum and maybe some inspiraton.

Good luck!

Stop overthinking and just write.

It probably won’t be very good at first, but first drafts never are.

Just do a stream of consciousness and go from there.

Poetry is best when it comes from the heart. If you have been throtugh bad times, write about the experience, your feelings or spiritual torment. Let it out in poetry. Also think about good things and the future, nature, feelings, experiencs, raindrops or sunshine or whatever moves you.

Keep paper and pen handy for when lines come to you.