one good poem

Not even one good poem

out of it.

Obviously

I was no Sylvia Plath.

-Elizabeth Brewster

Inspiration

(they say)

comes from hardship. 

So, I think, 

Maybe my hardship wasn’t 
hard enough

to inspire a book, 

or an essay, 

Not even one good poem.

There must be a disconnect 

between me 

and my talent. 

My experiences, 

and my efforts. 

Well, fine. 

If there’s no 

creative explosion, 

Maybe all I’ll get is

red eyes and hoarse throat

out of it.

And the simple things in life

like sweet fruit, 

clear skies, 

and a whole and satisfying

love

are still here to write about, 

though they may be a little bit

dull. 

I’ll never be an established poet,

Obviously

Still, I’ll be around to 

tease my lover, 

and birth babies

If that’s where life takes me

instead of to a short or long list. 

At the very least, 

maybe my children, 

(and grandchildren)

will boast with pride that

I was no Sylvia Plath