The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Wed 11/29/06)

[RetroLounge]

To A Frustrated Poet

This is to say
I know
You wish you were in the woods,
Living the poet life,
Not here at a Formica topped table
In a meeting about perceived inequalities in the benefits and allowances offered to
employees of this college,
And I too wish you were in the woods,
Because it’s no fun having a frustrated poet
In the Dept. of Human Resources, believe me.
In the poems of yours that I’ve read, you seem ever intelligent and decent and patient in a way
Not evident to us in this office,
And so, knowing how poets can make a feast out of trouble,
Raising flowers in a bed of drunkenness, divorce, despair,
I give you this check representing two weeks’ wages
And ask you to clean out your desk today
And go home
And write a poem
With a real frog in it
And plums from the refrigerator,
So sweet and so cold.

R.J. Ellmann

***************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[swimboy]

1. Oh God, that's a dangerous poem.

Wow.


If we get handed our walking papers I'll be happy to spend some time in the woods with you.

[RetroLounge]

3. Deal!

I'm saving this poem as my future letter of resignation...

:hi:

RL

[swimboy]

5. One of the greatest feelings

is showing up at work with a letter of resignation in your pocket and thinking, "I know something that nobody else here knows!" It was a rush.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Good morning, my dear Retro!

Wow, this is one scary poem......How to lose your job in one not-so-easy lesson!

Thank you.......:hug:

[RetroLounge]

4. or be inspired to quit

:hi:

RL