Day 29 - 30 Poems In 30 Days

(written after misreading “The Redress of Poetry” by Seamus Heaney)

The Red Dress of Poetry

Oh, let us flaunt our poetry.

Dress it in something slinky or
something soiled and inky.
Let us read in quiet bedrooms,
in crowded subways,
down by the fishin’ hole.
May we press it in our mouths
till it becomes diamonds
we hang from our ears.
Simmer it in the stew-pot of words
we’ve praised and cursed
till it becomes sustenance –
wheat free – gluten free
or banned by the FDA.
Carry it in in our silk purses,
in our sow’s ear pockets.
Be not ashamed ­– wear it
to the laundromat, the post office,
dress it up in something
that can’t be missed,
something to remind us
of living, of dying, of blood-shot eyes,
of the stars from which we came.
Let’s go out-on-the-town everyone
just to wear the red dress of poetry.