Because he couldnt remember every word
His students said, he had to be put away with
Patches of hot on his cheeks, well as for me
Id rather be singing with a group. Probably
Because I was a deaf mute in my last life
And that is why everything I think now
Pops right out of my mouth and why
I am always anxious to write
Even pulling
Tampax out of my purse at important meetings
Thinking Ive got a pen, but as for going
Crazy? Well Id rather be thin. Dont get me
Wrong, I love the past as much as anybody,
……………………………….for your sake
Like my mind, well would you,
Asking the trees to come inside
Playing lyrics to the song over and over
Hoping someone will get the message
I had to save myself
And I do not say now what I said before
I wanted to feel something for you but
……………………………….responsibility
Although right at this moment even as I speak
I wish we were in Panama
Hollering for our food to be served up
And that we could begin again
This time with music
Ive never been ashamed of anything Ive done
To anyone except myself and now I am
Without need of strangers and by this
I am telling you who I am
Ive known each of you my whole life and
Yet everytime we meet the gate is
Opening a different way
But when I figure it out
We pass through, we all pass through.
I admit it, it is beautiful and true
But pain?
Im not built for it
……………………………….Anyway Friends
Dont drink tea that is bitter
And if someone denies everything you stand for
Give him a gun that will never go off. Put
An American flag on the back of your car and
Tell them about me, that I was no easy lady
More like an old dog, chasing a bird in a
Moment of sun who leaves now for good saying
Isnt it a beautiful Autumn.
If these are my tears, I can do what I want
……………………………….with them.
Grace Cavalieri was Maryland’s tenth Poet Laureate Her new books are: Sticks And Stars (for children, 2026;) Fables from Italy and beyond (2025;) The Third Voice (2025;) and Owning The Not So Distant World which won the Blue Light Book Award, (2024;) Her most recent play in NYC was Quilting The Sun about ex-slave Harriet Powers. She founded and still produces The Poet and the Poem for public radio, now from the Library of Congress celebrating 50 years on-air in 2027. Twenty-five years of her podcasts were sent to the moon on lunar codex 2023. Among her awards, are the CPB silver medal, the George Garrett Award, Bordighera Prize, Paterson Prize, two Allen Ginsberg Awards. Cavalieri is featured in 2025’s The Best American Poetry Anthology. She is an Academy of American Poets Fellow.