It's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete

[fellmama]

I told Megan I'd post this. Because it is an awesome poem. Even though I didn't write it.


I Like My Own Poems
I like my own poems
best.
I quote from them
from time to time
Saying, "A poet once said,"
and then follow up
with a line or two
from one of my own poems
appropriate to the event.
How those lines sing!
All that wisdom and beauty!
Why it tickles my ass
off its spine.
"Why those lines are mine!"
I say
and Jesus, what a bang
I get out of it.

I like the ideas in them,
my poems;
Ideas that hit home.
They speak to me.
I mean, I understand
what the hell
the damn poet's
talking about.
"Why I've been there,
the same thing," I shout,
and Christ! What a shot it is,
a shot.

And hey.
The words!
Whew!
I can hardly stand it.
Words sure do not fail
this guy, I say.
From some world
only he knows
he bangs the bong,
but I can feel it
in the wood,
in the wood of the word,
rising to its form
in the world.
"Now, you gotta be good
to do that!" I say
and damn! It just shakes
my heart,
you know!
--Jack Grapes

Comments

[luxie-lisbon.livejournal.com]

hm, very interesting indeed. where did you first see/hear/read this poem? i think i like it :)

[fellmama.livejournal.com]

It was in a book I read for my Creative Writing ELI. Isn't it fab?

Re:

[luxie-lisbon.livejournal.com]

ELI for creative writing? how did that go over? what is there really to DO for an ELI of that caliber?

[fellmama.livejournal.com]

You write. A lot. A lot more than I did, actually, which is why I got a B.

Re:

[luxie-lisbon.livejournal.com]

wow. that had to HURT. what do most people get on ELI's?

[fellmama.livejournal.com]

Probably a B or an A, depending. I had a very rough second semester junior year. It was my fault.

Re:

[luxie-lisbon.livejournal.com]

hm. i have never really had an interest in an ELI. is it worth it?

[fellmama.livejournal.com]

YES! Don't do it second semester your senior year, though. It's just asking for trouble. The fun of an ELI is that you get to look at something that interests you, no matter how trival or "non-academic." It is work and you do have to study for it. But you get at least two open periods a week!