Some Poems Lead Lives Of Their Own

By John I. Blair

Today I saw a poem I once wrote
Presented in an unexpected spot,
An e-zine with a funky name
And format borderline illegible.

I wasn’t asked permission,
Did not care; the editor
Had clearly been out reaping
Unprepossessing poems such as mine,

Thinking, I am sure,
The authors would be blissed
Just to see their sweet birds fly
Yet one more time.

And in my case he was right;
Once I let a poem go
I’m not pissed
If it sells itself upon the street.

What matters
Is that someone’s read it,
Remembered it,
And passed it on.

If my poem leads a private life,
Unknown to me,
That’s one small leap
Toward immortality.

©2011 John I. Blair