What Is A Writer Poem by David McLansky

A writer has a book collection
Of the same book on close inspection
Piled in boxes or in bookcase nooks,
Oh, the symmetrical gold of the same titled book;

A writer lives undispersed
Although his words are framed in verse;
Insecure in his knowledge
He should have assigned the book in college.

If someone dropped the atom bomb
All my labors would be gone
Vaporized in one fell swoop
My reputation beyond reproof.

I’d like to insure my book’s survival,
Please read it in the mail’s arrival;
I can’t afford to cover the postage,
Send stamps before my final dotage.