8/22/2004

I broke bread
with a man
whom small talk
lead me to guess
correctly
was a scientist
of the kind
we all hope to meet
now and then
and
when we discussed
what it means
to be a poet
at this time
in these parts
I was led
step by step
to realize
that the undertaking
is to find a voice
that feeds the hunger
of many
for vittles
that have a habit
of disappearing
as soon as
one sits down
to eat
when
the mere mention
of such ambition
can precipitate
blood letting hostility
so violated is
our faculty for words
we can trust
bringing news
we can’t live without.