Every poet ought to write about the great emotions: Love, hate, fear, etc. I don't know so much about the others But a taxi-driver learns a lot about love. Of course, Writing about love is a good deal like Kissing yourself in a mirror: More reflection than emotion. But I have seen that it has a great effect On some people and makes them so brave They are willing to go out And hunt bears with a fly-swatter. Love is like water: It is so common that the most of us Don't miss it until it ain't there And then it is a very important thing And people raise a lot of hell about it. But if there is too much of it around It busts out and raises lots of hell with people. And if they were smart out at the college They would put in an engineering course In love because I heard a prof say "The Engineering College Dealt with the great forces" And if there is anything more forceful Than a drunk with a beer bottle Making jungle love to his wife, It is the same wife with a beer bottle Working on her opposition. That is love. And if the fellow in the front seat Doesn't know how love works He is blind or the rearview mirror is busted Because that looks back on life for sure. That mirror is what showed me That love is necessary to happiness. And if I had a daughter I would send her to college So she could learn nine different ways To say, "Honey, you are the Most wonderful man in the world." And the sucker would believe her And try to prove it Which would make them both many dollars And cinch much happiness According to the rearview mirror. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOUND NO'TH BLUES by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES HOPE PREFERRED by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON LES HALLES D'YPRES by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN SECTION GANG: MORNING by NORMAN BOLKER THE MARRIAGE OF EARTH AND HEAVEN by RHYS CARPENTER MARI MAGNO; OR TALES ON BOARD: THE LAWYER'S FIRST TALE by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH |