How Many Paragraphs Does It Take to Make A Poem?

This poem used to be a paragraph

Before I divided up the lines.

I don't know if it's better

Now than it was before,

Or even if it matters.

I know what Adam will say.

He thinks poetry is boring.

And frankly, I do too.*

I'd rather read a letter, or a story,

Or an essay about how to tie a shoe.

This will make some poets mad,

As it rightly should.

Until you accept that if it is

Just a matter

Of arbitrarily dividing the lines

Or not,

Then what I or he or we or they

Think about what

You've written,

Should not be taken into account.



*Except notable exceptions