LIVING LIFE WITHOUT THE LETTER C: FROM CONVICTIONS TO COOKOUTS
Christopher Stolle
My letter C is an omnipotent fellow
as he battles the hopes, the pitfalls,
the horrors and the possibilities.
If C didn't exist, we'd not have any creativity,
no challenges to overcome and no cities to live in.
No more cassette or CD players, no civil wars,
no chlorophyll, no Chopin and no chopsticks.
Nothing could run in chronological order, or be civil
and there'd be no more concerts or concessions.
Without C, we'd have no calcium, no shirt collars,
no chipmunks, no cylinders, no ceremonies and no clocks.
Maybe we'd still have criminals and cold snow,
but we'd lose all the calendars and computers.
Maybe the cynics will disappear and Congress would fold,
but how could we eat still chocolate chip cookies?
There would be no cellars, no closets and no cops.
The ruins in Rome couldn't crumble without columns
for they could only tumble to the ground without the letter C.
Nothing could be correct or be able to cascade
nor would we have calligraphy or cash or compatibility.
We could rid the world of cystic fibrosis and the curses
as well as cyclones, crucifixions and contusions.
But we would be miserable without culture, carrots,
cabbage, chauffeurs, chaplains, cereal or chalkboards.
Yet, we could destroy cerebral palsy, creeds, cryptics,
crack cocaine, idiotic college courses and costs.
But where would our courage and character go?
What about chastisement and celibacy,
and what about Christmas and Chanukah?
There would be no chapbooks or Chaucer to read,
and depending on who you are, that might be chivalrous.
The letter C must prevail for the sake of cherries,
candles, crayons, crescent moons and Charlie Chaplin.
We need the constellations, cheese, creation, cauliflower,
crystals, collections and Indiana's own cream and crimson.
With no letter C, we'd have no Christophers, Chads, Cindys,
Carlas, Charles', Carols, Camilles and no Claude Cookmans.
But in the grand scheme of things, the letter C remains
a vital part of the English language for the sake of
all the things that our dreams and goals burden
as they end in the culmination of change for all
creamy cows, cremated curators, charismatic choices
and for the consolation of all curious and courteous children.
And in the end, the letter C survived with the need for comfort,
corralled peace, calm arguments and cool compositions like this.
Ciao!
