|
Read as much as you can
If you want to be a good reader
But DON'T write
If you want to go beyond the land
Of blood and sweats-
The eternal yoke
Of your perennial struggles.
For if you take to writing
They will read you cover to cover,
But in parts
And must rip your ribs apart
And you know--
All that is read becomes unread
All finished up in the last.
***
Read and write to be human being.
And to be a true being
You need to become a poet at the core
A man of heart;
Of gold with iron will;
Of condensed compassion;
Of pure sensibility.
Thoughts need to be ironed out
On the rosy bed of feelings
Or utter failings,
Sorrow must be spread out
In the smiling or scorching sun
For those gory blots to dry up
As love and peace shine
On the sheet
By weaving together all those
Broken asunder.
|
