Maybe the Poet

Listen while you read:  No maybes about it!

Maybe the poet is gay
But he'll be heard anyway
Maybe the poet is drugged
But he won't stay under the rug

May be the voice of the spirit
In which case you'd better hear it
Maybe he's a woman
Who can touch you where you're human

Male, female, slave or free
Peaceful or disorderly
Maybe you and he will not agree
But you need him to show you new ways to see

Don't let the system fool you
All it wants to do is rule you
Pay attention to the poet
You need him and you know it

Put him up against the wall
Shoot him up with Pentothal
Shoot him up with lead
You won't call back what's been said

Put him in the ground
But one day you'll look around
There'll be a face you don't know
Voicing thoughts you've heard before

Male, female, slave or free . . . 

~ Bruce Cockburn

My daughters and I were having a conversation yesterday about the scary state of things ("the fire and the fury"), and one of my daughters made the comment that if women ran the world, there would be peace. I've often said that. While it sounds like a feminist statement (which it is), I think it would be hard to argue with the truth of it whether or not you embrace feminism. Anyway, I added something else to the conversation when I said, "Or poets." That, too, is something I've often said. So today, I stumbled upon this song, "Maybe the Poet," by Bruce Cockburn. (Please pronounce his name correctly! "KO-burn.") I thought it would make a good follow-up to my poetic endeavor on yesterday's post. The song is on 1984's Stealing Fire. (And how appropriate is that?)

And then I realized that today is Mark Doty's birthday! Mark, one of my favorite poets, was my advisor in grad school. I have heard him read a few times since then, but not in awhile, although he does remain a friend on social media. I welcome his thoughtful and wise posts. Yes, he could be the poet in Cockburn's song.

Poetry has been a part of my world since I wrote my first poem when I was seven. Once I learned that I could do it, I never stopped, although I admit that there are periods of time when I ignore the Muse and pursue other arts and distractions. I think that now is a good time to pay attention to the poet, whether it's the one who lives inside me or inside someone else. But then again, I suppose this blog allows me to pay attention to the poets every single day. Thanks, Bruce, for being my poet today.

And birthday wishes to Mark! Thank you for showing me new ways to see.