the academic poet

has been included in
countless anthologies.

he's received fellowships
and grants.

he's known to be an activist
and socialist.

he's currently publishing
a long long poem
that's going to run into several volumes,
complete with arcane and obscure references.

at least once a month
he quotes Aeschylus
and Pindar.

he's published several volumes of his
talks and essays.

he's very good at
playing the game.

he's always sure to
shake the right hands.

he's also
never had a hang nail
and his dog's
never thrown up on the rug.

his bills are always paid
and he's never known
what it's like
to have to miss a meal.

his socks always match,
his hair's always combed
and he's never made a fool out of himself
in front of family and friends.

and
his poetry
shows it.

there's no soul
no guts.

it's so much empty air...

just talk.

when he's gone,
other academics
will discuss his life
and dissect his books.

people will forget.

and other academics
will take his place.

and others
will soon take theirs.

i'm afraid
there will always be
academics,

smiling, confident
and sure.

and this
is just
one more reason
why you
absolutely need

someone

like

me




dear anita:

the most recent poem
you sent
is one of the best things
you've ever written.

it's got heart and soul,
intelligence,
warmth and wit.

it's got
everything
my poetry seems to lack.

please
don't write to me again.

i don't need to be
constantly reminded
that at times my poetry
is worthless and pedestrian...
that my subject matter is limited.

in fact,
your poem crosses over
onto my side of the street
and you've done it
so much better than me,
limiting my subject matter
even more.

i don't need
the competition.

if you write to me again
i'll refuse to open your letter.

i'm taking your books
down off my shelf
and throwing them out.

from here on in
i'm only going to read
writers who have been dead
for 40 years or more.

at least with them
i'll have
a fighting chance.




my old dog's gone deaf

it happened
practically overnight.

the vet says
it sometimes
happens that way.

she's not
in any pain
and it doesn't
seem to bother her.

her behavior
hasn't changed
and besides,
she never really
listened to us
anyway.

now, the same as before,
when she's out in the yard
and i call her to come in
she just sits there
and stares at me.

same as before.

i guess i even forget
that she can't hear me.
so, i open the door
and call
and she sits
and stares.

old habits
die hard.

i'm just glad
old dogs
do too.



Bio: John Yamrus has published 2 novels and 14 volumes of poetry. He's had more than 800 poems published in magazines around the world. His two most recent books of poems are ONE STEP AT A TIME and BLUE COLLAR and can be bought online from http://www.barnesandnoble.com