I Wish I Could Write a Poem Today

(but Happy Birthday to Franziska anyway)

I wish I could write a poem today
But life has ground me down to nothing now
If I could I would make a poem say
The things I find unspeakable somehow
As touching how this life is touching me
Today in a way I find unpleasant
In a word roughly or abusively
And not really worth living at present
Given the disappointment the sorrow
To say nothing of the hopelessness when
Yesterday is gone with no tomorrow
But maybe I can write a poem then
Or the day after or maybe next week

Or maybe it may never be at all
If today is it is too much to speak
The problems too big the poet too small
The chasm between the two yawning wide
As a deep shadow is cast like a pall
As I await the fate of the helpless
As I am devoured by my destiny
Having already piled up poetry
Enough for anybody now I guess
If I could I would make a poem say
The things I find unspeakable somehow
But life has ground me down to nothing now
I wish I could write a poem today

+Steven Curtis Lance



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