Ashberry Poem by RIC BASTASA

what makes a promising poet
is the one who comes to you
telling you that he wants to write a novel
in some other exciting ways
or simply one who lightly quips
that he likes to play with words
like some tumble weeds
and bedbugs tugging a bundle
of fecal matter

i suppose one that lacks the seriousness
to write the most important matter of life

and he was clear in saying that the one
who comes to him telling him that he wants to be a poet
because he has important stories to confess
ideas to express

does not really become a poet

and i am really, one of them
because i do not really want to be one of them
there is simply no use
at the age of ten, i already wrote my first line:

please leave your slippers before entering the door