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mike swanberg

you should be asking yourself how
many poems can i write today??
not when you first wake up, not when
the bed is still warm but after that
after the skipped shower
after your toast

everyone else in the working world says it
how many bricks can i lay
how many shoes can i sell
times two one for each foot

but on the other hand never ask
how many good poems can i write
because as you know no poems are ever good
there are only acceptable poems
and rants

anyone who doesn't believe this writes
rants and is a blind fool

i might as well write this poetic advice has been
brought to you by the good people at ford motor
company. this is how day to day your poetry should be
easy on the reader
easy on me

and for another thing your heart is still
allowed to show up sometimes
sometimes poems work as diary
lookit whats his name lookit that brown haired woman
a whole generation beloved by
for thier hearts sharp tugs

here is an exercise
write one poem on monday
and on tuesday write two
by friday you should have fifteen poems
in just one week

and if saturday morning you arent so sick
of yourself that you could scream
you might have something
talk to me.