July 14, 2007

Ars Poetica II: Say That I Was an Obsession Poet

Say that I wrote about sex until I was sex
alive and tactile and pungent and as unequivocal
as the new baby’s behind

Say that I wrote about death until I wasn’t scared of it anymore,
until it became just one giant exam I could pass because I knew
all the answers and all the questions--champion of the Death Quiz Show

Say that I wrote about love until I loved everybody in perpetuity
and they could feel me loving them ten years after I was dead
layer after layer after layer of amor

Say that I wrote to you in everything , you there
in the fourth row, three seats in from the left, you know
this is for you, don’t you?

Don’t you?

—Ernie Wormwood

Posted by dwaber at July 14, 2007 02:43 PM