If you give a squid an explanation
he’ll want to write it down.
He has the ink already.
But no pen.
If you give a squid an explanation
he’ll want to write it down.
He has the ink already.
But no pen.
You’ll have to explain that sewing scissors
shouldn’t be used for paper
even after it’s gotten soggy.
If you give a squid a squeegee,
he’ll wipe the windows of your submarine
while you’re stopped at a traffic signal.
If a squid wipes your windows
he will expect a tip.
If you give a squid a tip
he’ll need a pocket to put it in.
If you give a squid pants,
he’ll want a hole for his tentacles.
If you give a squid your scissors
he’ll want to cut paper snowflakes.
You’ll have to explain
that sewing scissors
shouldn’t be used for paper
even after it’s gotten soggy.
If you give a squid your scissors
he’ll want to cut paper snowflakes.
If you give a squid pants,
he’ll want a hole for his tentacles.
ROSIE (counselor): Poetry Crisis Line, what is your emergency?
GREGORY CORSO (caller): To die by cobra is not to die by bad pork.
ROSIE: You know you can just purchase a dye kit, right?
PATIENCE (counselor): Poetry Crisis Line, what is your emergency?
AAKRITI KUNTAL: I read a poem on earthworms.
PATIENCE: Like, each line on a different worm?
KUNTAL: I read the letters in the sky.
PATIENCE: Uh…like the Worm Signal?
WORMS: I am held by flashes of / frangipani in Delhi that were but chords of / rain.
If you give a squid a squeegee,
he’ll wipe the windows of your submarine
while you’re stopped at a traffic signal.
If a squid wipes your windows
he will expect a tip.
If you give a squid a tip
he’ll need a pocket to put it in
If you give a squid a squeegee
he’ll wipe the windows of your submarine
while you’re stopped at a traffic signal.
WOMAN WALKING DUCK: New Pet?
WOMAN WALKING KANGAROO: It has pockets!
KIM (counselor): Poetry Crisis Line, what is your emergency?
RITA DOVE (caller): If you don’t look back, the future never happens.
KIM: Strange. I think I’d remember that.
from “Dawn Revisited” by Rita Dove.