The Poem’s the Thing

Bacon wrote of Richard the Third

Admiring the roses in the Garden

The Bishop of Ely cultivated

Shakespeare took that line

And dropped it in his play about the man

They had different thoughts on

Plagiarism, and originality back

Then.  Originality and authorship

Weren’t privileged.  I’ve heard it said,

“The Play’s the thing.”

So when I look back and I

Want to tell you I love you,

I find -- The soil relents – rock is carved.

I find --  A universe of meaning. The turn of the lip

I find -- AND THE WORDS AND THE METAPHOR FALLS AWAY

I find the deepness of my love for you has been expressed

Many times before, though not quite right.

And I’m stuck.

Stealing from myself.