Anthology

The One Who Listens

Sandy MacLauchlan

Acquiring minds sit in lecture
Listening to poetry

The only one who really knows
The true meaning of the poem of study
Is the troubadour who composed it
All of the similes and metaphors are like
Crossword puzzles in young minds

So why must they sit in class
Playing guessing games?

A class full of doldrums and
Dozing docents
Makes the professor a disappointed man

But someone is listening . . .
The pupil hears the voice of Marianne Moore
In “Poetry”
Like Moore, she also sees some poetry as
Unequivocally genuine
Imaginary thoughts with real heart in them

Inquiring mind sits in lecture
Listening to poetry
And perhaps finds an affinity with the verse maker