A poem inspired by Taylor Mali at the MAMSE conference March 4, 2016
Brown elbow patches
Red Ralph Lauren corduroy blazer
East Coast poet strides the floor
Singsong voice rising in pitch
Invokes images of fire, jumpers, 7th grade boys, girls and pens
Ragged emotion-gladius of battle
Teaching us to teach again.
We sit in folding chairs rapt in words.
He is sage on the stage today.
Force, matter, motion,
Physics drives individuals.
Physics slams poets.
“Write this down!” he says-
A truth he just recalled.
“Poetry is written to be heard first.”
Nouns, concrete, broken objects you can throw
Assuage our ears
Write this down.
Lingered like a reluctant school girl.
Write this down.
Pedaled like a rusty tricycle on two wheels
Write this down.
Commenced like a valedictorian.
Write this down.
Write this.
Write.
Red Ralph Lauren corduroy blazer
East Coast poet strides the floor
Singsong voice rising in pitch
Invokes images of fire, jumpers, 7th grade boys, girls and pens
Ragged emotion-gladius of battle
Teaching us to teach again.
We sit in folding chairs rapt in words.
He is sage on the stage today.
Force, matter, motion,
Physics drives individuals.
Physics slams poets.
“Write this down!” he says-
A truth he just recalled.
“Poetry is written to be heard first.”
Nouns, concrete, broken objects you can throw
Assuage our ears
Write this down.
Lingered like a reluctant school girl.
Write this down.
Pedaled like a rusty tricycle on two wheels
Write this down.
Commenced like a valedictorian.
Write this down.
Write this.
Write.
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