Gift Selection
for D.B.A.

you believe in this and that
attached therefore to this and that
to this one, that one

try to make misfits fit
try to make fit what can't/who can't fit
what is and who are
not intended to

my God,
why is your sister not more supportive
more respectful
with her television-
or the television
on like torture

what have you done her
what possibly is she paying you back for

I am aware you can be bullheaded
aware that you are strong-willed
aware that you can be selfish, insubordinate

used to think it was your brothers
against whom you were sharpened
shaped, forged

it is your mother and your sisters too
and who else, responsible for your edge
your edges and who's responsible
for your softness, your sweetness

now against me sharpening
in another variety of ways
intellectually, I hope, among them

in poetry softening, in poetry bathing
a lake of poetry for you to wade in

added to or springing
more and more each day

poetry to bathe in
better than milk to bathe in
if or even if I must myself say so

herein though lies the conflict
poetry and this shit, that shit
poet and this one, that one

why do you need junk
along with jewelry for Christmas


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2010
12:50 p.m. 25.10.10