Poem

Whatever you have to say, leave
the roots on, let them
dangle

And the dirt

                   just to make clear
                   where they came from.


Charles Olson


This poem came to mind when I pulled the honesty seedling from a place I didn’t want it to grow. It left no doubt where it came from, the seed having germinated while still in the pod.

Suddenly I was transported back nearly fifty years to when I was studying the Black Mountain poets and Projective verse. Robert Creeley came to the university and I managed to insinuate my way in to his class. He sat on a chair to talk while I sat on the floor among the students soaking up what he had to say. Sadly I’ve forgotten all but that experience. And this poem.