It comes as an embarrassing revalation
and something of a shock, to find
that I am one of "those"who
always has a recent poem>
in purse or pocket,
and,
at
the
barest
hint,
the
tiniest
glimmer
of
encouragement,
          I unfold the scrap of scrawl,
                              breathe in and sally forth
ignoring squirms and far-away eyes
of brother, cousin, friend, or stranger
prisoners of politeness with no escpe,
mouths mute, hands pale and limp,
beads of perspiration gathering
at brow and upper lip ___

I must remember what the Poet Laureate wrote,
"You only need two:  you, and one other."

But, in the All-Volunteer Listeners' Army
there seem to be few who are "poesy inclined"
and many who do not care to take their time
for prose, free verse or rhyme.

Fortunately for me,
there is always Chuck,
my extraordinarily
intelligent dog.


1/15/10,  11/25/10