long gone

i had this great idea for the first verse
of this sure hit poem for the masses; i had this
great idea, last night
but then it was long gone

i am prone
to this forgetful behavior
irresponsible versification
one time too many, one time after another

poetry for the masses is
none of poetry's business
for there is a sure hit for every gazillion misses
the unwritten suffering of the poet

the nerve to keep defying the blank pages
to spill the ink, the blood, drooling saliva
over dreams drenched in sweat and alcohol
the fever of the verse uncanned, raw, urgent

so painful, every word so painful,
the poet dies a little bit
in every verse
his ideas are long gone

the writer is blocked
the poet is dead

i had this great idea for the last verse too,
of this sure hit poem for all classes; i had this
great idea, just a moment ago
but then it was long gone


jackson earl (Wichita, KS, 1971)