5 Ways to Reuse This Poem

1. Seek me out a small pigeon pure
Of unexpected feathers swirling sea and sky
Surprise us both by landing beside me
Sport a blue band upon your leg
Look all around for familiar faces
Lift away at a motion of my head

2. Carve the letter C white and chunky out of chalk

3. Experiment with horticulture, dig into your floor
Raise mountain laurel carved from coral

4. Survive like lobsters that will not submit
Leap from cookpots till
There is not a bucket big enough

5. Conspire with moon and clouds
To wink at me with a friendly eye
I will not ask you why

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Conditional Discrimination Learning

Can you remember two things at once?
Who knew that Bob’s death
Would bring everyone together?
All the ancient jingles—
Like a good neighbor
You’re a pepper too
Gloria in excelsis deo—
Do not preclude responsibility
For what I’m doing here with you
On this unusually warm June afternoon.

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Please Use This Poem

Locked outside on the roof again?
Never fear.
This poem is your old Swiss army knife
You got from your sad pappy when you were fifteen,
The one you lost on the F train.
Broke your umbrella out in the rain?
Lucky you.
This poem makes you laugh about
Soaking your cracked clock,
Ruining your crazy hat getup.

This poem has magic power.
Use it for good.
You don’t have to ask me.

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