Thirteen Perspectives on the Role of the Poet

I.
She presses her cheek against the world's chest,
recording what she hears.

II.
She speaks in color for
the hard of ear
and music for the hard of eye.

III.
She holds her pen like eggshells—
she knows
that words are fragile.

IV.
She writes
and so participates.

V.
She says
‘the sun is green’ and makes
it green.

VI.
She scurries up a ladder of light.

VII.
She pulls, unraveling
the knot of what is trite.
She ties it in a bow.

VIII.
She doesn’t fully comprehend
and doesn’t wish to.

IX.
Sometimes she tugs and bends
a thing until it breaks.

X.
She paints in blood.
You want to believe
that blood
is beautiful.

XI.
Her pen
grows inky legs
and beetles off to find
itself.

XII.
The world is her goal.

XIII.
Sometimes she breaks,
sometimes makes whole.