Poets Die is a poem written by Michael Lee Johnson and shared with The Ugly Writers under the theme Stop, Look, and Listen for the month of May
Poets Die (V2)
Why do poets die;
linger in youth
addicted to death.
They create culture
but so crippled.
They seldom harm
except themselves—
why not let them live?
Their only crime is words
they shout them out in anger
cry out loud, vulgar in private
places like Indiana cornfields.
In fall, poets stretch arms out
their spines the centerpiece
on crosses on scarecrows,
they only frighten themselves.
They travel in their minds,
or watch from condo windows,
the mirage, these changing colors,
those leaves; they harm no one.
Read more from Michael Lee Johnson by checking out his updates on Facebook or by reading his previous works here:
