What Will A Poem Cost? Poem by Terence George Craddock

so many poems come in an instant
writing themselves in water words
in rivers of mind; there are still

other poems in a lifelong reply not
posted it is a strange fate in a long life
I never met anyone who ever supported

my writing poems; not a single friend
none among those I met in daily discourse
while my wife is hostile to my writing poems

if they do not make money
of what use are poems
therefore a useless hobby

my mother is negative to indifferent
my elder sister a bitter blade of accusation
a poet cannot: possibly be a good father

must be neglecting wife; must be neglecting
daughters could not; possibly be taking
family out to restaurant meals movies

at least once every week could not
possibly be devoting real time
sacred family time in love giving

poems cost nothing to write but
time energy focus on concentrated art
form not like drinking smoking

gambling womanizing investing
guilt for time wasted; absolutely none
because poems never cost income

poems cost no travel time income
all bills were paid finances met,
food laid on table expenses paid

words that come free easily
can be freely given need not be sold;
poems hold their own truth

if I do the math then yes it was
in some ways easy to live in peace
to not write a thousand poems

especially with no place to post them
none mourn no writing insight wisdom
lost no beauty to survive enrich lives

what does a poem cost?
what will a poem cost?
who pays a poem cost?

Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock