Poetry Submission by Jhon Baker - 001

WHY DON’T THEY SHOOT MORE POETS?

I don’t mind getting older;
there’s no penalty for death,
only death.
they don’t shoot poets anymore.
they’re unafraid and we’re
powerless –
that is our penalty.

saying you love me is
your penalty.
nobody is envious for
your love of a poet.

that’s half what I meant.

or –

that’s half what I meant.

I don’t mind getting older,
there’s no death penalty for it.
only death,
a poet’s death.
they don’t shoot poets anymore;
considered unfashionable.
people walk unafraid of poets
so we are powerless,
this is a penalty.

“I love you.”
and that is a penalty.
loving a poet,
nobody is envious.

and that’s half what I meant.

-­‐ it’s one of the two isn’t it?


-­‐ J. Baker