Robert Demaree- Two Poems

WORKSHOPPING

These have been workshopped,

The young man said, handing me

A small stack of poems.

He meant the way poets will gather

To critique each other’s work,

Changes suggested by generous spirits,

Or not:

Curious, that they would invoke

An egregious usage—

Verb from noun—

In an act of improving language.

I read the poems

And wrote him a note

With a few suggestions

I meant to be

Affirming.

I never heard back.

MORNINGS

1. Haiku: November 2014

Thanksgiving morning:

Turkey in oven by eight:

Celery, fresh sage.

2. Tanka: Waking Up

Red Circle coffee,

Favorite A&P brand,

Gone like other things:

Bokar, Ipana toothpaste,

My parents’ percolator.

Robert Demaree is the author of three book-length collections, including After Labor Day (2014) published by Beech River Books. He presents poetry readings, seminars and workshops in North Carolina (October through June) and New England (June through October.)