Can A Life Be Written In Poems? Poem by Shalom Freedman

CAN A LIFE BE WRITTEN IN POEMS?

Can a life be written in poems
When words are never enough
To say what we are?
Can a life be written in poems
When there is so much that is not Poetry in it?


Can a life be written in poems
Except in abbreviation
Except as certain moments
Except as an interpretation
of what that Life is-

2.
A life can be written in poems
As poems
But this does not make it the true story
And this does not make it true poetry-

Something can be done
But to what degree
And to what real value
Each life each poem
Must answer on its own.