For poets - read widely. And honestly, write widely, too. Don't just stick to forms of poetry you're comfortable with, because challenge helps you grow as a writer.
Though I may not be a poet with a long publication history or publication intent, I can say that by staying broad in what I read/write, I can get excited about each new poem more because I know there's a lot of variety behind my creative process. Also, I think this practice moves me towards writing works that transcend my own feelings and become (or seem to become at least) things that have a life of their own.
You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better. — Anne Lamott
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