I watched each of my four daughters being born, and each one brought a different story of pain. I'm not about to wake their mother, my wife, up to ask her if she misses any of the pain, but the stories of the pain? We always miss those. That's why we keep retelling them. The pain of birthing a line is different. For me it's the same old pain every time, the same set of struggles. I rarely come away with a story of that pain. I come away instead with a line that pushes and pulls me into another line. There ain't no tearing and bleeding and risk of death, just the train in my brain that won't stop until I arrive at the Station of Momentary Completion or I throw a triple sour mash on the tracks. Something about the favorite glass and the chipped ice and the whiskey bruise that slows that train so I can sleep. And be back next time for more of the same. Because it's the sameness I'm after, not a different experience every time, but the same pain over and over.

Indeed. Writing poetry, perhaps unlike fiction, can be like assembling a puzzle, conquering a crossword or passing Mario Bros. 3 for the 51st time. (Who doesn't love the old school Nintendo?)
Why do we stare at words, sentences and stanzas for hours, days and years? Why, when we think we've finally got it, do we revisit those same phrases over and over? Sometimes, I wish I knew the answer. Most times, however, I'm certain that not knowing is why I keep writing.

I agree with J here, poetry writing is much like assembling a puzzle. Sometimes you hit upon the right combination of words in an instant, sometimes the same eludes you for months, until maybe you abandon it, or like Ms Smith, you take it up after years. I can identify though with her night long vigils of those lines evading the ultimate solution. Ah, I guess its difficult for non-poetry writers to identify with our plight, and kids, their take-off on most things give me a totally new perspective !