poet as language worker

Semi-truck roars through Lafayette Happy Valley
Spilling Cascade paper products on word winds

Rolls of newspaper headlines
Boxes of books and periodicals
Sheets of carefully scented toilet paper
Packages of 401K forms
2000 year old papyrus calendars for RA
Lists of pending to-dos
Bill of sale requirements
Deeds and lease agreements
Birth and death announcements

Shredded highly classified Top Secret
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
internal memo circulars
circus posters

Poetry books among books
spilling their lives
dangerous words
orchestra sheet music
directing a playwright’s
dialogue
character driven conflict

Plato
entertains grotto ghetto children
whispering laughing dancing in parchment leaves

eating the shadow of their dreams