3 Poems
for Seth
I have this bet
with this kid
I'm trying to show how to write
and every time I talk with him I tell
him to have a couple more poems ready for me
the next day.
I say:
"3. That's what I want. Very different but
specific themes. Have them ready by—
(some
date in the near future)"
And he complains.
I say:
"I want them typed, give the letters some formality.
They like Times New Roman."
Of course this is
all bullshit.
No one can show anyone how to write.
It's a curse
some academics started
and all though I plan to teach the
subject one day soon
I honestly believe it cannot be done.
All you can do
is give them some of the things that worked before
and some of the things that didn't
and after that they have
to write all the time
or at least, be
thinking
about it.
There should be a matter of
concern
to have the words down there
so that maybe just because
they proved
again
that
life is meaningless
at least there's some words
to say otherwise
little hieroglyphs of
survival
a green light on the dock
that's the saddest part about this fire
you can't hand it
down
It's the kind of thing that asks you the question
and the only thing you can
do when it comes is
write down the
answer if it
does.