The Wish To Be Serious In Writing Poetry Poem by RIC BASTASA

i wish somehow that i
be a serious poet,
the one that you must like
as though i am
one kind of philosopher
and statesman
rolled into one,
but i am not
never been to their
rightful places
i have only been to myself
in the park at
night or the bar
till dawn, i do not wish
to pretend that
i only go to church on
Sundays,
i am not really that
religious or
even political
i like my life
it's my own and it
is petty upon
its own frivolities
one however that does
not hurt anyone
or make others crave
for what i cannot give
it is just a wish
i like to be Whitman
or Blake but sorry
it will take time
but for the meantime
i will just be
what i am.