Fred, an interesting topic. For what it's worth, I find most times that I start with an image or phrase and let the poem evolve from there. I have written a few poems where I knew how I wanted it to end, and then worked toward that. Seems to me either method can work effectively . . . though I suspect one loses that "surprise and discovery" which makes the creation of a poem so meaningful to the poet by working back from an ending.
Peter
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