Man Writes Poem by Jay Leeming

This just in a man has begun writing a poem

in a small room in Brooklyn. His curtains

are apparently blowing in the breeze. We go now

to our man Harry on the scene, what's

the story down there Harry? "Well Chuck

he has begun the second stanza and seems

to be doing fine, he's using a blue pen, most

poets these days use blue or black ink so blue

is a fine choice. His curtains are indeed blowing

in a breeze of some kind and what's more his radiator

is 'whistling' somewhat. No metaphors have been written yet,

but I'm sure he's rummaging around down there

in the tin cans of his soul and will turn up something

for us soon. Hang on "just breaking news here Chuck,

there are 'birds singing' outside his window, and a car

with a bad muffler has just gone by. Yes ... definitely

a confirmation on the singing birds." Excuse me Harry

but the poem seems to be taking on a very auditory quality

at this point wouldn't you say? "Yes Chuck, you're right,

but after years of experience I would hesitate to predict

exactly where this poem is going to go. Why I remember

being on the scene with Frost in '47, and with Stevens in '53,

and if there's one thing about poems these days it's that

hang on, something's happening here, he's just compared the curtains

to his mother, and he's described the radiator as 'Roaring deep

with the red walrus of History.' Now that's a key line,

especially appearing here, somewhat late in the poem,

when all of the similes are about to go home. In fact he seems

a bit knocked out with the effort of writing that line,

and who wouldn't be? Looks like ... yes, he's put down his pen

and has gone to brush his teeth. Back to you Chuck." Well

thanks Harry. Wow, the life of the artist. That's it for now,

but we'll keep you informed of more details as they arise.