This Is Not A Poem Poem by Thomas Bishop

this is not a poem,
it is the idea of one
the longing for one
the frustrated waiting
the wanting
the needing
the hating of one.

this is not a poem,
it's the hiding from one
the delaying of one
the desperate waving
the avoiding of one.

this is not a poem,
it's not even the pretense of one
nor the destruction of one
the de-construction of one
or an excuse for one.

this is not a poem,
an application for one
the acceptance of one
theoretical analysis
or the undoing of one.

this is not a poem,
It's a lie
that may
or may not
resemble one.