What advice would you give a poet? humanodon ? _refugee_? anyone
Advice to a Poet
for William Carlos Williams
First see things as they are: a red wheelbarrow
sweet, cold plums
Then add bias, interpretation: a red useful wheelbarrow
Add nuance: sweeter, colder, plummier plums
Add snow, bitter winds, hands stuffed in pockets turning blue,
Feet tripping over the wheelbarrow, half buried in snow.
Add Elvis singing, “It’s now or never/come hold me tight.”
Add one raised eyebrow, add a fast-beating heart.
Then climb in the wheelbarrow and ride away eating plums.
Advice to a poet: don't.
Advice to a poet:
One day you'll understand
that parable about the child who realizes
her parent used to art
and wasn't half bad at it -
but then stopped?
from the perspective of the papa
or the mama and it won't be
so sad anymore.
Advice to a poet: life, and love, change shape
over time. They're always there, but they won't
always rhyme.