Poetry Crisis Line

If you Give a Squid a Squeegee – p6

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 a Squeegee p5

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 a squeegee – p4

If you give a squid your scissors
he’ll want to cut paper snowflakes.

If You Give a Squid a Squeegee page 3

If you give a squid pants,
he’ll want a hole for his tentacles.

Gregory Corso calls the Poetry Crisis Line

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?

Aakriti Kuntal calls the Poetry Crisis Line

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 p2

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