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“Learn that Poy-m”


E. Fleischman



A “Little Rascals” film features
a boy who refuses to learn
a poem for class and “acts fresh.”
His father scolds,
��“Fresh! Don’t you
��want to be president?”
The boy ditches school, but
down by the creek, his ears ring:
��“Learn that poem!
��Learn that poem!”
At last he goes back to class
with the poem in hand.
In embarrassment, he weeps as he recites
��“I clumb up to get the daffy-dill...”
while the class jeers. Then
another kid releases a skunk into the room
and everybody runs out.

You’ve seen it.

Now, it’s been several days
since i opened my notebook
and patched together my words
in this quality of voice.
I want to write my poem.
I want to be jeered at
and to become president
long after the odor fades.

Let’s think of paper. And write about paper:
��[This. Trees. Some rays pass right through. Paper built this city.
��Signs, identities, money, scratches in fabric. Travelers. Medium.]
Let’s think of power. And write about power.
��[Aiding and assisting. Returning power to the earth. Grounding ��stronger. Learning and creating. To see with the eyes of God.]
Let’s think of poetry. And write about poetry.����
��[Defending the faith. Quiet art of vocal sound. Loud art of voice.
��Craft of paper. Opposing big signs. Describe life in audible terms.]



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