{WP #815 the poem that won awards and sparked so many to love poetry again}

I sat down to write it, summoning Jesus (’cause everybody’s momma loves Jesus), Shel Silverstein (’cause grownups and kids alike love him), and David Allan Coe (’cause he wrote the ultimate country and western song). I had to be humble, and funny, and true. I had to please the masses. My success depended on it. No pressure, right?

It had to have music and roses and candlelight
To make everything just right
It had to be whimsical
And moody 
And uplifting
But also rhyme and not be uptight

It had to say a million "I love you"s
It had to sing with all the joy everlasting
It had to be the one thing you could memorize
And let the world know you were sophisticated

It had to make you forget about your problems
And make you feel light
And graceful
And place stars in your eyes

It had to talk about all the ugly things turned beautiful
Because this is the perfect poem
The one where there is the gorgeous tree
And the luscious fruit
And the breathtaking ocean
And all the things we dream about at our desks at 1:30 in the afternoon