flailed at

The first line promised what the rest of the poem only flailed at.

startle title

Don’t use the device of a ‘startle title’ too many times. If you do, you run the risk that many readers won’t read on beyond the title, or that what they do read beyond it seems lesser than its promise.

not much to go on

A poem may start with a premise, or only a promise.

ultimate enemy of promise

When a clearly gifted poet dies young, of course we miss out on the even greater poetry to come; then again, the quality of the poetry won’t ever slide or fail to exceed the fine early work.

another page

A poet promised in this page another even better page.

shows promise

Sometimes it’s enough that reading a poem makes you want to read another or the next one.

without words

The terror and promise of a fresh notebook.

title exceeding

The poem exhausted itself trying to keep up with the promise of its title.