This is the beginning of poetry

This is the beginning of poetry: looking at words,
looking at words, looking at words:
images, sounds, all determined
by looking at words
symbols, marks, mute marks sounding
resounding
echoing against the walls of thought.

Poetry is images; poetry is sounds;
poetry is the echo
fading
failing to depict, define,
but conveying, connoting
four notes from a flute
of champaign, half-empty
and abandoned.
Poetry is not a strong affection for
or attachment or devotion to--
the futile vestige of a fatigue,
rather: a tautology,
the fatigue
of language itself.
Poetry is nothing to say: looking at words,
looking at worlds, looking at words...