Borrowed Trouble: Micro Tribute to John Ashbery (1927-2017)
I wouldn’t write at
all if it weren’t for myriad writers before me whose works showed me what was
possible. The poems of this series are small offerings of respect, of thanks,
to those muses. – Brian Beatty
John Ashbery
I remember shoebox-sized
bricks of government cheese.
That’s just one of many ways
I’m old-fashioned poor.
I also play the banjo out
beside the road suited up in my
old man’s old scout uniform.
Passing traffic slows to a stop.
I nod at the approaching strangers.
Each hands me a silver dollar.
– Brian Beatty
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Brian's most recent collections of poetry are Dust and Stars: Miniatures and Brazil, Indiana. Don't miss Brian's columns on the great poets: insert your email address in the "Follow By Email" box to the right of this article and you'll be notified every time a new article appears.
I always respond to Ashbury's poems. Even when I have no idea what he was up to when writing them. Which is most of the time.
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