That's right, remarkably I got a second poem for my birthday. This one written by Betty Heidelberger, a wonderfully dear friend and writer.
Message to a Homeless Poet
You should not waste your power or your gift
Let poems explode like thunder from the skies.
Reserve the right to talk about your life
The trailer parks, the hookers, and the wine.
You have the touch, as addicts often do.
Remember Poe, his Raven and his pipe
The madman dreams, distraught, he wrote them down
these were his soul, the rudder for his life.
You are a poet, wear your badge with pride
No matter what bad choices you have made.
It hurts my heart to see you often down
Don't give your power to a phantom dream
We have all sinned and guilt is just a crutch
To break to cinders in a violent wind.
By the way with gifts, you can never go wrong with poetry or bourbon.
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