to Nikki Giovanni

Hey, Nikki -
this IS a poem
because sometimes I want a poem
sometimes I need a poem
sometimes I crave a poem
a sweet silver sliver
in the grey weight of my life
so, this IS a poem
because sometimes
the cooking
the laundry
the dusting
the dishes
the cleaning
the crying
don’t let me see the sun
the bill collectors get so loud I can’t hear the cardinal sing
and even when I ignore it all
it gnaws at me with all its expectation
so I need poem
I need Maria Callas
and Mozart
and Van Gogh
and Pollock
and Ella
and tap shoes and paint and trumpets and poems
sometimes, Nikki, I need a poem
so
this is a poem.