Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Warning: Nerdity Ahead

I was listening to NPR on my way to work this morning, catching the tail end of Culturtopia just as I was pulling out of the driveway.  They were talking about the things that made them happy this week. Someone said something that made them happy was the poet James Tate.  

He read a poem.

It made me happy.

I hope it makes you happy.



Teaching the Ape to Write Poems
by James Tate

They didn't have much trouble
teaching the ape to write poems:
first they strapped him into the chair,
then tied the pencil around his hand
(the paper had already been nailed down).
Then Dr. Bluespire leaned over his shoulder
and whispered into his ear:
'You look like a god sitting there.
Why don't you try writing something?'