Upon Receiving A Rejection Letter From The American Poetry Review For Nine Poems I Had There For Fourteen And A Half Months

Dear Jim,

Sorry to take so long with these, which have strong perceptual moments but which, to me, seem to have reduced your experience too far into a kind of primitive statement. But thanks for sending them in.*

                                                      Sincerely, 

                                                      Steve Berg

Dear Steve,

I was going to send you a finger, but the shops were closed.

                           Jim Humphrey

                           August 1979
                           Attleboro

* the nine poems are in The 5¢ Poem

from The 5¢ Poem. Copyright © James Humphrey Trust