Visit With a Poet

Visit with a Poet

Upon the altar of written words
he prays with bleary eyes,
as paper offerings are scattered
across a desk of lies.

He staggers to the fridge,
a coke he guzzles down,
then lights up a cigarette
before he turns around.

(He rants and raves,
he screams and cries,
he paces as possessed!)

His thoughts a jumbled wreck,
unshaven is his face.
Crying, he rips at his hair;
The poem is going no place.

Screaming at the muses
Calliope he does curse!
With sweat upon his beaded brow
He writes another verse.

(He wrings his hands,
He kicks the door,
He paces as possessed!)

He dives upon the littered desk
His pencil fairly flies,
So poignant are the written words
He hangs his head and cries.

Finally it's finished
The words came out just right
And suddenly he changes;
In awe at his insight.

(He smiles and laughs,
He dances in glee,
He drinks to his success!)

Close the door quietly,
Walk out and do not turn.
There's nothing you can do for him
And a poet's words can burn.