Do you believe the poet makes the poem or that the poem makes th

I think it can be looked at both ways. What is your opinion?

Poet makes the poem or poem makes the poet.

the poet makes the poem ... obviously if the poet is emotional ... the poem will show that ... and it will show strong and real emotion .... whereas a poet who is like just writing wont have that gift like emotional people do ... you also need to be like ... good with words

it can be looked at both ways.
If someone writes a poem that the poem tells us about the poet, so the poem makes the poet.
But the poet makes the poem when they are feeling things and want to share the feelings.
so it goes both ways

Thanks for responding. :) Sometimes for me the words just come of their own accord but other times it is like I am trying to construct a poem.

They work hand n hand together. You cannot have a great poet without a great poem, but just because you have one great poem that doesn't make you a great poet, what does is the quality of the span of your work, whether be it complicated, unique, and dark or not!!!

I think the poet makes the poem, because the poem is created from the heart (usually) of the poet.

I feel the quality of the poem resides in the poet.Anyone can write poetry, but not everyone writes good poetry.I know from personal experience that only 1 out of 5 of my poems are good, the rest are drivel.But it is the endless quest to write the best poetry we can, and that means writing a lot of bad poems in the process.If you write from the heart, it can't help but have meaning.There are exercises and different forms we can try-we are always growing(and improving) as poets no matter how young or old we are.As long as your poetry expresses and satisfies YOU is all that matters.

Gary Jurechka