Advice to All Poets Laureate

Here’s a poem I wrote shortly after being named Poet Laureate of Newburgh, N.Y. last year.

It’s called “Tatter Us a Poem,” and it’s advice I’d give to all Poets Laureate (if anyone asked me).

Tatter us a poem — tack it to a wall

and never give a damn if it doesn’t rhyme at all.

Shatter us a brain; break a heart or two;

etch a verse upon the door of every bar in view.

Spatter us a feeling upon a sash or sill;

blast it bold for everyone to hear it, if we will.

Scatter us some startle — shake us to our core;

awaken us to dig connection deeper than before.

Matter not the meter; the meat of what you say

(and the solace) is the knowing you have touched us on our way.

Stay tuned for info on my forthcoming book of poetry, “Pretty Nearly all natural!”