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How do your write your poem Curled round chewing on a pencil -- Still, standing, staring in a space -- How do you write your poem? Head in hand, resting on the table? Huddled or crouched waiting on Inspiration -- Kneeling hunched over linoleum -- HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR POEM? Sitting on a toilet in a room crowded With fixtures -- When do you write a poem? Always --------- and ever Whenever it hits me -------- whenever A beginning comes running to catch me: However it happens to arrive -- Sometimes as a Tylenol at midnite When mourning a dead illusion. I can't claim the words as mine -- I don't write poems I just write them down They come thru me not from me! I don't run to the roof waving flags, I don't beg your attention -- No composing, no scribbling ------ I just sit by the window, empty handed ----- But the window is always open ---- Wide -- as a refuge for wings flying thru. If they perch for a moment to peck at my sleeve -- Tilting a pointed beak -- black eye unblinking, Round as a coin -- I stay still, never moving A breath to disturb them -- they scatter when ready, They know when it's time -- they don't say farewell -- They're sure I know why ----- They'll return! |