A Greek poet* and very
Accomplished one at that,
Once said poetry is
Rooted in the human breath,
And added—as an afterthought,
Probably—what would we do if
That breath should ever diminish?
And in the same spirit elsewhere,
Quoted another poet, a German**
Well on his way to Elysium,
Who asked what is the use
Of poets in a mean-spirited time?
I don’t know
About you but as one
Who has accomplished precious
Little in a vast field overrun
By well-meaning but unfortunate
Unacknowledged go-getters
Sinking in despair, I think
We could all use a well-earned
Breather and leave it at that,
Buoyant and resting at last
In those fertile, mythic, ever green
Grasses waiting cross the river,
The slightest distance just
Over there.
