This poem <br />is friendly: <br />see, it’s wagging its tail, <br />it will follow you anywhere, <br />run off and come back, <br />a perfect companion; <br /> <br />this poem <br />loves fun: <br />you want to play dressing up, <br />it’ll laugh and rush off to the attic, <br />the basement, the dressing-up basket; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is serious: <br />you want to be silent awhile, <br />rest your head on its shoulder, <br />it will wait for you in <br />sympathetic stillness; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is humble: <br />turn it over, write <br />a love poem on <br />the other side, <br />it will glow with your love; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is disposable: <br />write a few lines, be angry <br />with yourself, scrumple it up, <br />throw it on the pavement, <br />someone may pick it up, <br />someone may tutt and place it <br />carefully for recycling; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is an origami: <br />you can make any shape you like: <br />a paper boat on <br />the waves of destiny; <br /> <br />a ladder to reach to where <br />you always wanted that fruit; <br />a crown; a dunce’s hat; a witch’s conic; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is elastic: <br />a tablecloth for a picnic, <br />a sheet to cover two lovers, <br />a ground plan for a new world; <br /> <br />this poem <br />knows where <br />nothing meets something, <br />nowhere meets everywhere, <br />no time meets all time, <br />anyone meets everyone, <br /> <br />this poem <br />has a bright eye <br />whether you read it or not; <br /> <br />this poem <br />likes you though it <br />hasn’t met you; <br /> <br />this poem <br />is impervious to scorn; <br />it knows who it is, <br />and where things begin and end.<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/this-poem-9/
