69.
Delineate the landscape where you
grew up. That’s an acceptable start.
But in the droll town where I was born
no one every used the word ‘landscape’,
nor the concept, nor the word ‘nor,’ ever.
I’m being honest, that’s
a good start, eh? Grow up,
who gives a fuck about a ‘good start’,
I went to college like a privilege
and learnt to wield a metaphor in each hand
and got a kiss on the arse for being good.
Who made a million? The Student Prince?
Who made a profit from a lasting work of art?
Who was improved by the perfect landscape?
13.
FAMOUS POET JETS HOME TO USE!
How lucky to live in America, where
supermarkets stock up heavily on writers!
Thinking of the famous poets floating home
to that luxurious and splendid place
inhabited by living legends like an old movie
you blush with a sudden flush of Romanticism
and your false teeth chatter and shake loose!
How it spoils the magic! In America no writers
have false teeth, they are too beautiful!
Imagine meeting Duncan in your laundromat –
in America in happens all the time – you say
Hi, Robert! – and your teeth fall out!
And you can’t write a poem about that!