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James Anderson
Remember Paris?
I asked as we sipped
vin ordinaire and cracked
plastic menus under
elm trees in sunny Minneapolis
Yes I do you said
things were different then
They're different now I said
except for this table
and Lyndale Avenue and your
hair and the way you smiled
at me and the way he always calls
and can't we forget what
I said can't you see how much
you mean to me can't
we pretend (and you
holding a palm up answering
the phone -- me waiting)
like we used to pretend and can’t
we just go on and on
But ten minutes later you
were gone
The check came
I swallowed my wine
Somehow I'd forgotten
this is America
and there can only be
one winner
My Writing Class
she raised her hand and a very exacting
and particular man with Bono glasses
said yes? and she asked what about pen names
what about them he said
what is it with pen names
anyway he fumed
nom de plumes
aliases
this is poetry people
this is ourselves
sing and be seen
be an artist
or be nothing
we’re not here
to hide
but what
she said
if I had an affair and
want to publish poetry in magazines
and don’t want my husband or family to know
all about it and he said
you
(taking off his glasses wiping them carefully)
should be ashamed
of yourself
©2007 by
James Anderson
James Anderson publishes poetry and short fiction in a variety of venues, both online and print.
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