I Want to Hear Poetry



I want to hear poetry
heave from dry mouths
of pedestrians on Broadway,
Meter maids recite Whitman
I want to hear poetry

When I’m driving in my car
I want street signs to read:
“two roads diverged in a wood”,
I’ll choose the way from there,
I want to hear poetry

Officer, officer
when you stopped me last night
why did you ask for my license, registration
and insurance card?
why not recite verse two of
Bob Dylan’s, “Police Dog Blues”
it’ll do for you Mr. Officer
because, I want to hear poetry

When I’m on a date
don’t patronize me
with your mascara and good looks,
just quote a line from Frank O’Hara
or Gwendolyn Brooks
I want to hear poetry

When we’re at the restaurant
don’t push today’s special on me
just serve up an entree`
of romantic realist cuisine:
a platter of Wordsworth and Coleridge,
a side of Ferlinghetti, with beets
A dish of Dante, extra spicy!
A snifter of Sonia Sanchez
A tumbler of Yusef Komunyakaa
A shot of Jack
Kerouac
and do me a favor,
put that Allen Ginsberg in a doggy bag
I want to hear poetry

When I’m watching TV
don’t assume political correctness, Connie Chung
just slide some Basho
off your wriggly tongue
I want to hear poetry

When the commercials come on
don’t tell me it’s better in the Bahamas
Yes, I know it’s been a long winter
and I could use a tan.
Just give me my pajamas
and some Kahlil Gibran
I want to hear poetry