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Poem #1: ODE TO OGDEN NASH
by Steven Levine - November 1, 1983

Poetry, It's for the birds, it's for the bees;
Whenever I hear it - it makes me want to sneeze.

Poetry, It feels so abstract, it's about life I'm told;
But whenever I hear it, it always seems so cold.

So we must give poetry a different name,
Like Ogden Nash,
Invite him to a bash.

Go for a swim,
Put on a pair of fins.

Go for a dive,
It's almost five.

Invite rhinoceros,
You say that's too mechanical.

If I'm given to whimsy,
Does that mean my poetry's flimsy?

Come away with me - we'll fly from this earth;
I'll show you new things, it'll be your rebirth.

"Stop it," you say, "poetry's not written that way";
But I do as I want, when I sing, when I pray.

Bend to the wind
And you always given in.

Make up your own mind
And do it in your own time,

If you follow the crowd,
Then don't be so proud.
You think 'cause you're loud
That people are cowed.

I'll give you a choice,
Make it here, make it now;
You can raise up your voice,
And sing it out loud,
Or be silent, with many,
And belong to a crowd.

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