One Poem

Five days since the last one.

I just want to write a poem about love,

About one soul in awe

“Life” is “busy,”

Keeps getting in the way of living.

When did I see you, yesterday? 

Man, this heart is crazy

Do whatever it takes to wind me up

So I hold my pencil too tight

And give myself too long of a leash.

At least I can wring out a poem about awe,

About one soul in love.

Please make sure it’s not the last time. 

The Poet’s Task

If only all the poems in men’s hearts

Were written; that each one had a pen

And tongue to write, and time,

That each could interpret silence into words–

If only all the beauty of each day 

From every humble corner of the earth

Recorded, would spring from the mind 

To dance in every kind of air, in mirth–

What we would gain, were every man a poet! 

But since they spend their days in other chases

We who write poetry must gather up the corners

Where unmade poems hide, and make them!