I read the headline slowly, a second time, <br />Just to be sure: <br />“Aspiring Poet Drowns in Hudson Trying to Save Poems” <br />It seems a young body threw itself into the river <br />Chasing its paper heart and soul <br />As they sank to the black bottom below <br />Held hostage in a backpack. <br />Seems even the lightweight models <br />Aren’t quite light <br />Enough. <br /> <br />Someone should have told him, <br />Warned him of the truth: <br />Poetry is in the writing, not on the paper. <br />Paper words merely mimic the mind, <br />Cheaper by the dozen <br />One thousandth of a picture. <br />Sometimes you get a “hmmm” and a wink <br />From a reader in Des Moines, <br />And frankly, that should suffice. <br /> <br />By all means, share your thoughts. <br />Mind and body are for the taking <br />And the giving. <br />But for God’s sake guard your heart and soul, <br />Back them up from time to time, <br />For when these are left lying around carelessly, <br />It’s bound to end badly <br />Sooner or later.<br /><br />Lori Boulard<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-dennis-kim-victim-of-poetry/
