Been Gone A Long Time

I've let a month and more go by without a posting. I've been deep into poetry. I've been writing it and reading it. I've discovered Charles Bukowski. I've found out that Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser, our new poet laureate, are good friends. I've been reading Jim Harrison's novellas. I have been enlightened and it feels good. Here is a poem I wrote as an introduction to a poetry reading at my bookstore last night. I hosted "An Evening of Poets" in honor of national poetry month.

An Evening of Poets

Most of us shy from the effort of song
too conscious of our own being
to sing to the ones willing to listen
we let passion wither and possibility die

But the poet finds the courage
to bare his soul to those that can't
and speak sublimely the perfect words
to spark rapture or bring on despair

He draws from the deep well of his private pain
and plucks from the ether of his euphoria
and with one of his many voices
sings above the din of muttering humanity

The many poets know many songs
the common thread is that they must be sung
in an evening of poets the world is in tune
and the listener is able to sing along