Reagan Reynolds

I prefer --

Are not seen

With eyes that skepti-cize

My em-dash

To analyze

My word choice;

To correct my length

Of line.

 

Songs

Are read with ears

That can't spell any

thing --

But enunciate meanings

So that meaning can take on

A new shape --

And form ideas,

Or toss emotion

From here to there.

One varied measure can

Turn one word into

Mull - tea - bowl.

 

Poems

Are OK too --

If your ears are tired

And you have enough quiet

To think the words into your head

Over your children's voices

And enough patience

To pick apart the ambiance

Left unsaid

Between the lines --

Like in that text

From their teacher.

 

But...

 

Songs

Are the language of

Forever and the building

Blocks of memory --

And I would much rather

Dip my words into the

batter of forever.

 

Right now

Poems and songs are held

At arms-length by

Thought-hunters.

 

Did this come from your mind?

Did you rhyme this word this time?

Are you an unprompted author?

How can we trust you?

 

How can I trust you?

I reply... with a song.

And they write back

In a poem:

You can't.

 

Well, I guess I will

Keep on washing

My words of imperfections

And hang up my work

For free

On one line

Then another.

 

And -- maybe -- some child

Somewhere,

Maybe here,

Will love it

And not care

To ask if I am who I am

Because I am.

And I enjoy

The smell of 

Clean laundry

And tea.