An ars poetica…

Every poem disguises itself
as a solution to a dilemma
(or a dilemma in search of a solution)

Every poem lifts fingerprints
from the scene of the crime
before the police arrive

Every poem thinks too much
and insists on spilling its guts—
or says almost nothing and makes us guess the rest

Every poem bolts upright
in the middle of the night
making a hell of a racket

Every poem struggles to get free of the poet
one wants purity, one wants meaning
These desires are at odds—and exactly the same

Every poem takes on a life of its own
out in the real world
invincible and defenseless

Every poem thinks it knows us
better than we know ourselves
(it’s probably right about that)

(22 October 2017)