“The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth.”—Jean Cocteau

I have never shared my poetry before because I have always felt that—like my art—I can’t always tell when it’s good or bad.  According to a past art prof, all artists are generally unable to tell whether their work is good or bad.  I also believe that sharing unpublished poetry is like masturbation.  It can feel good but most people probably don’t want to see it.  That’s why I’m only going to share previously-published poetry here.  (This way, everything you read was at least good enough for someone to actually publish it.)

Believe it or not, I have actually written material worthy of greeting cards.  I got tired of stupid, over-schmaltzy, saccharine-sweet greeting cards for parents.  I decided to write one of my own.  Don’t ask me how much this one paid because I do not know.  The original copy of this poem was included in the published pile otherwise I wouldn’t even remember that much!  After all, by the time I wrote this I was already in college and you KNOW what goes on there, right?

“Hallmark”

Mom and Dad,

I may not often show it

I hardly ever say it

Yet now I am taking the time

While a bit of the world is watching

To let you know I love you

Today and every day

—W. Scott Phoenix

(1981)

Funny thing is, now that I think about it, I don’t think my parents ever read this one.  It was just born out of frustration with the way most cards were written in those days.  I felt this was a nice way to be nice to the people who created you and put you on this planet.  After all, ya didn’t want to stay where you were, did ya?

“Poetry is something that a lot of people simply cannot evaluate”–Anonymous

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