Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SOLILOQUIES OF A SMALL-TOWN TAXI-DRIVER: ON THE EMOTIONS, by EDGAR BARRATT First Line: Every poet ought to write about the great emotions Last Line: According to the rearview mirror. Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
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...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD SOLILOQUIES OF A SMALL-TOWN TAXI-DRIVER: ON THE WRITING OF POETRY by EDGAR BARRATT |
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