FROM SAMMY- 25th JULY 1987
To Terry
who wished a gift
in rhyme
Here’s something
just so divine
Penned by me
It’s POETRY,
if that’s what it’s capable to be! !
1. You said you wished
for a poem
As a gift from me to you
But Terry dear, if you must know
I cannot rhyme a lime
Be it ‘haiku’ or a ‘ballad’
or a mournful ‘elegy’
… be it Milton or Wordsworth
or plain and simple Shelley
I’m totally out of element
I’m totally out of form
When it comes to poetry,
I’m a big horn!
2. Still if you insist,
I inflict you with this
Perhaps you can use/ disuse it
As a tissue or a mat
Or in some class,
Where your students can learn
How poetry can be aghast!
3. To further carry on…
This epic task you’ve set me…
Which absolutely dreads me
and creeps and crawls
and twists my spine
… inspiring me to do a rhyme
…. or write a line
in praise of thee
whom psychologists consider
the “King of their variety”.
4. This poem’s already
reached its peak
Seems to run into pages
not worth to keep
Perhaps another Illiad
or Odessey begins today….
To end in the murky
waters of Backbay.
5. Oh, but let’s be positive
Who knows today’s
changing public
…. they may actually like this crap.
And put it on the
bestseller map.
Where shall I be then
In some glorious Manhattan heaven
…..With all the glitterati….
and big names
mine shall reign.
6. My own penthouse…
butler…. and maid
wardrobes…. and jewels
Oh, what a craze!
I’ll live a life of luxury….
….scandals…. and fame…
Wooing the masses
with my charm
and name.
7. To end this tale
short and simple
I hope you’re glad
I made an effort
Pushing my pen
Ruining this paper
Writing some stuff
Not worth to remember
But writing poetry
nevertheless
Cause you wished me
to do it!