Intention
I want to write a poem
about the world—
Japan, Afghanistan, Libya,
the Cote d’Ivoire— but what can I say
when even here in my cozy home
everything is just a little broken—
sheets ripped, cups chipped, evidence
of carelessness, accident,
despite what we call best efforts.
If I could live more mindfully, as if
curating the collection, would I become
eloquent as a docent?
Mantra
say yes to the breath
say yes to the long inconvenient subway ride
say yes to the woman complaining
say yes to the bad poem
say yes to the good poem
say yes to the pain in your neck
say yes to your strong legs
say yes to right now
say yes to putting that bundle down
say yes to the pink blossoms
say yes to the difficult task
say yes to all easy
say breath to the yes
Marjorie Tesser is the author of THE IMPORTANT THING IS…(Firewheel Editions 2010, Firewheel Chapbook Award Winner), and The Magic Feather (Finishing Line Press 2011). She is an editor for the Bowery Books poetry series and is editor of The Mom Egg literary journal.