diff --git a/lib/poems/README b/lib/poems/README
index c51e847e90..836595bdd1 100644
--- a/lib/poems/README
+++ b/lib/poems/README
@@ -1,51 +1,13 @@
-This directory has source files to build a library that LAMMPS
-links against when using the POEMS package.
-
-When you are done building this library, two files should
-exist in this directory:
-
-libpoems.a		the library LAMMPS will link against
-Makefile.lammps		settings the LAMMPS Makefile will import
-
-The latter file will have settings like this (can be omitted if blank):
-
-poems_SYSINC =
-poems_SYSLIB =
-poems_SYSPATH =
-
-SYSINC is for settings needed to compile LAMMPS source files
-SYSLIB is for additional system libraries needed by this package
-SYSPATH is the path(s) to where those libraries are
-
-You must insure these settings are correct for your system, else
-the LAMMPS build will likely fail.
-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 POEMS (Parallelizable Open source Efficient Multibody Software) library
 
 Rudranarayan Mukherjee, RPI
 mukher at rpi.edu
 June 2006
 
---------------
-
 This is version 1.0 of the POEMS library, general purpose distributed
 multibody dynamics software, which is able to simulate the dynamics of
 articulated body systems.
 
-This library must be built with a C++ compiler, before LAMMPS is
-built, so LAMMPS can link against it.
-
-Build the library using one of the provided Makefiles or creating your
-own, specific to your compiler and system.  For example:
-
-make -f Makefile.g++
-
-If the build is successful, you should end up with a libpoems.a file.
-
---------------
-
 POEMS is supported by the funding agencies listed in the Grants' List.
 POEMS is an open source program distributed under the Rensselaer
 Scorec License.
@@ -70,3 +32,34 @@ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
 110 8th Street,
 Troy, NY 12180-3510, U.S.A.
 
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+This directory has source files to build a library that LAMMPS
+links against when using the POEMA package.
+
+This library must be built with a C++ compiler, before LAMMPS is
+built, so LAMMPS can link against it.
+
+Build the library using one of the provided Makefile.* files or create
+your own, specific to your compiler and system.  For example:
+
+make -f Makefile.g++
+
+When you are done building this library, two files should
+exist in this directory:
+
+libpoems.a		the library LAMMPS will link against
+Makefile.lammps		settings the LAMMPS Makefile will import
+
+Makefile.lammps is created by the make command, by copying one of the
+Makefile.lammps.* files.  See the EXTRAMAKE setting at the top of the
+Makefile.* files.
+
+Makefile.lammps has settings for 3 variables:
+
+user-poems_SYSINC = leave blank for this package
+user-poems_SYSLIB = leave blank for this package
+user-poems_SYSPATH = leave blank for this package
+
+Because this library does not currently need the additional settings
+the settings in Makefile.lammps.empty should work.