NaPM April 15 2016

[Achebe]

I am not a poet

I am not a poet
because you see, I cannot write of sublime things
such as dead children going up to see god on angels' wings
in a well metered, well meaning sonnet - 
and when I do, tectak pisses on it.

I am not a poet
because you see, it takes balls to write a poem
and if no one reads it, one must proceed to publicly show 'em - 
the time I did, a copper got a bee up her bonnet
and asked me if I'd like her baton's kisses on it. 

I am not a poet
I am not a poet
I am not a poet
and neither are you.