Man Writes Poem -- Jay Leeming

(Poem #160)Man Writes Poem 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.  -- Jay Leeming