Hard Tack A celebrated poet hectored me For misinterpreting his lines “You missed the point” he argued I replied “Which one?” And then went on to ask The eminence Before he signed his book To dedicate it to the Reader who would take the time To savour every seasoned word and phrase Until they carried him or her Wherever the unhurried taste allowed Unless, of course, He wanted us to chew on Nails ________________________________________________________________________ Emanuel E. García, The Virtues of Calamity, One Hundred Poems, 2013 |