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Selecting A Reader

Jul 4, 2005

First, I would have her be beautiful,
and walking carefully up on my poetry
at the loneliest moment of an afternoon,
her hair still damp at the neck
from washing it. She should be wearing
a raincoat, an old one, dirty
from not having money enough for the cleaners.
She will take out her glasses, and there
in the bookstore, she will thumb
over my poems, then put the book back
up on its shelf. She will say to herself,
"For that kind of money, I can get
my raincoat cleaned." And she will.

-- Ted Kooser

Selecting A Reader

First I would have him be tired (but happy)
(because days are full and Life is Good)
Tripping accidentally over my poetry
left lying like a lost shoe on a dim staircase-
his hand catches the railing and righting
himself before he falls he will pick up the book.
Open it to a random page. Read one-two-maybe-
three poems before he will start to smile and stop to
Yawn. Then he will say to himself, " Now I should go
to sleep." And he will.
(only to dream a beautiful poem against all odds)

-- pavi

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"Service doesn't start when you have something to give; it blossoms naturally when you have nothing left to take."

"Real privilege lies in knowing that you have enough."