The Process Of Writing Poetry Poem by Duy Bui

First, you learn the word pretentious
from a dictionary on your lap or one
on the computer.

It is like standing in front of the ocean
on its rocky beaches and try
to figure out how the rocks were formed,
not consulting the waves.

One day you forget the dictionary at home.
Then slowly, you learn to forget the dictionary at home
Even when it is on your lap.

One day you forget how to get to the beach.
Your lawn becomes the vast ocean, you sit
Upon the waves and your pen becomes the paddle.