Me and Poetry Today

I’ve quite often wondered, and probably blundered,

When I’ve tried to discern and really to learn

An important life fact—although nothing exact—

from those opening words, singing to me like birds.

they’re the words, don’t you know it,

that this morning were coming

from my first favorite poet,

i mean good ol’ e.e. cummings.

They’re from, I think, the opening stanza

of a virtual poetic bonanza,

of an old poem—to me a song—

one I’d been hearing all night long

It seems I’m always wrestlin’

With those words of edward estlin.

“I have never loved thee as now I love”

they sing to me like angels from above.

There’s another that I like, it can stop me at the door

“I carry your heart in my heart.”  Oh allow me one more

“The best gesture of my brain is not worth your eyelids flutter.”

Failing to find a rhyme I’d accept, let’s just say “like butter.”

Now, I recall how this business started,

A simple task from which I soon departed.

What did he really mean, “I have never…”

“…as now I love.”  Was it not forever?

but instead merely a fleeting glimpse

of love that cannot fly but only limps.

Then while caught in the embrace of death,

Once more the love takes away his breath

To think I b’lieved some simple verse of mine could do it

I knew it, I knew it, I just simply blew it.

‘cause I started looking at all of his other stuff.

But fear not for me, it wasn’t that rough.

Just know that love’s precious and so,

We really must share it wherever we go.