On poetry (poetry)

On Poetry

I was raised by wolves

Invisible elephants
In the living room

I didn't have a Harvey
Of my own

I had words
I had songs

Those were the gift
The songs and the words

Some feelings were only addressed
In music

Words were play
I loved comics
As soon as I could understand them

My mother knew verse after verse
Of songs

My father played and sang
Read Chaucer in Middle English
As a bedtime story

They each sang a song
To the newly engaged

Ironic, acknowledging the dark side
Of marriage

Wish I was single again

When I was single
My shoes they did squeak
Now I am married, lord,
My shoes they do leak
Don't you wish you were a single girl again

When I was single
My pockets did jingle
Wish I was single again

When things were bad
Unspoken
Frightening
There was refuge
Songs and books and words

If I stored enough words in my head
I could be alone

Lonely

And still play