I am reading poems by Billy Collins: AIMLESS LOVE, a retrospective, A sampler, as it were For the Books and Brew; Our monthly selection.
Nine manly men Meeting for monthly meals And book-talk And politics And, of course, good beer.
They like nonfiction, I like fiction.
Richard Hughes, British writer of poems, short stories, novels and plays said: “All nonfiction can do is answer questions; It is fiction's business to ask them.”
Still, my repertoire has expanded: Nike shoes. Civil War. Institutional racism. Opioid addiction. Rafting the Grand Canyon. Climbing mountains. With Baron Von Humboldt.
And now this: Poetry. Nine manly men Reading poetry to each other While sharing a meal, One lovely poem after another.
You can't read a book of poetry Like you consume other books, Fiction or nonfiction.
The table of contents: The lid of a box of exquisite truffles— A map of pleasures contained within. You look at the map, And make a selection.
The caramel truffle Is not the coffee truffle.
You look at the map, Make a selection, And bite!
The crusty chocolate cracks! The darkness melts, Floods your mouth with taste.
Then the rush of caramel! Flavors, smells sloshing Swooning with sensate memories.
What? Turn the page and read another? Reach for the coffee truffle?
No. Linger with caramel; Luxuriate on aftertaste. Is that a note of citrus or salt?