A Letter to One of My Poetry Students

Sure
poetry is
bigger than
you

Simply
so
is life

But go after it

try for more

Who put you in charge
anyway?

Grab a hold
Let it
come; let
it come

It’s there
Open
your eyes

Look out

blink once or
twice

concentrate

touch
yourself

Feel
something different
for a change

Surprise yourself
Work at a
solution

Plant something and
help it
grow

Can you hear
me in
there?

I'll love you, if
you'll love
me

Jump aboard
It’s
great from
here

Let’s swim in
cold, clear
water

Build a fire
Eat clams
drink
wine

Let the ghosts go
this time
out

And leave the rainbows
where they
belong

Laugh a little —
blossom

Thinking
before sleep —
warm
in each other’s
arms

How the whole
world could
love like
this

But for God’s
sake,
quit crying about
how rotten it
is
for
you

You’ve too much
to lose this
way

And so little to
gain —

even

if

you

never

write

another

poem

for

as

long

as

you

live

                                        James Humphrey
                                        Marshalltown, Iowa, 1968

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