Everyone who keeps a guitar neglected
on a stand, a trophy wife with wound strings, will tell
you, when you look, that it's out of tune,
as if to reclaim dominion, or at least

erect an ear.
Everyone who writes poems when in
love, or heartbroken, or otherwise moved

by natural wonders (as might live
in oldfangled cabinets of curiosities)
will tell you that they're terrible poems,

because it's embarrassing to try.
The guitar is never worth playing for

how it might sound, and no hear

t-rent poem is ever just not very good or

a bit humdrum or not quite there yet

or good for the purpose.

It's always immature and stupid to try,

learn from, emulate an expre

ssive hero; no one admits they want

to be famous for something they aren't

good at.

With such cliché varnishings you are

n't surprised that they found their start

ing points (at least if you believe

them) shopworn as well.
If you pick up my guitar, I won't tell

you it's out of tune, and it won't be

kept neatly on a stand anyway, and if

I show you a poem it's because I like it

but also want to improve, learning from

what you see and how you respond.

If you don't want to be a cliché, start by not

being one. Hey you

punching keys, are

you catching that?