Poetry

My bff Kate is a poet and sometimes I get to accompany her to poetry readings. I love this window into her life. Inspired by Kate, as well as the poets Maggie Smith (whose book, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, I just read and loved) and Saeed Jones (who with Zach Stafford and Sam Sanders hosts Vibe Check, my fave podcast) I have written this:

I'm not here to be pretty for you

I'll wait
And let you contemplate what you just said
Without
Filling the air
To cushion your discomfort

I'll stare
While you make that joke
Without
Feeling the need
to laugh

I'm not here for you.
That's not why I put my shoes on.
I just want
To walk my dog.