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Recorded Reading (1:26): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i4v17wh783rycd8adfpw0/The-Kind-of-Poetry-You-Write.wav?rlkey=klgja4crvjf43nbn6vfltctal&dl=0

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The Kind of Poetry You Write While Sitting in a Van Being Stoned While Your Society Both Tacitly (Law Enforcement) and Actively (Neighborhood Association) Approves

Yes, in the end they all fail you
Nobody gets out alive
Every relationship comes to an end,
And everything for which you strive

In death ~ if not more
Than somewhat before ~
And don’t stick around
To hear the mean laughter
Of everything they say
About you right after
(Got it coming to you
‘Cause you did it too)

There’s really no hope of improvement
Everything hopeless they say
About never changing any rearranging
That might make existence okay

Is true: on a treadmill
From birth until death
From our very first
To our very last breath
And if you reach out
Your brother unto
Everyone will heap
Calumny on you

Excellence earns only jealousy
Ingratiation earns praise
Never a subject aught less than familiar
You would do better to raise

Nobody, if they can
Help it, do other than,
No less or more,
Than the person before
Everything’s paid
No exceptions made ~
There’s a hefty fine
If you step out of line

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This poet is physically disabled. Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, she is presently living, in order to continue working, in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone, surviving at an income of a fraction of her nation’s poverty level. She would treasure any donation you might care to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for the poet to be notified of contributions. International patrons please contact the poet via email or post a comment for the necessary numbers.

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