A Way with Words

 

Everyone tells me

I have ‘a way with words.’

I use creative adjectives

poignant details

and occasionally clever phrasing.

 

I call it a gift.

And it is… like a wedding gift

that sits in a box

in a dusty hall closet

until the friend who presented you

with the expensive knick knack

arrives for a visit.

 

Then it is resurrected,

polished and displayed

for a short while.

But it is much too nice for everyday

and shortly, goes back into storage.

 

How do they do it?

Poets, I mean.

How do they think

of all these important social issues

and clever metaphors

when their kids need shoes,

the toilet needs fixing,

and they’re worried

about putting food on the table?

 

How do they use their

shiny crystal gifts

with the tuna casserole?

 

KWF

3/5/2004