86400 Seconds

we gave birth to a new generation,

I ask them to take a poem,

When some people talk about money,

Angels don’t come to the reservation,

Body my house,

Thanks for the tree,

How Bright It Is,

April. And the air dry

“Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?"

Give up sitting dutifully at your desk. Leave,

I like the generosity of numbers,

I used to lie on the floor for hours after,

At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border,

This is the field where the battle did not happen,

Girls, Look Out for Todd Bernstein,

Because after sitting out for a spell,

By day the bat is cousin to the mouse,

Did I Miss Anything?

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here

Neglect

Is the scent of apple boughs smoking,

The Poet

Loses his position on worksheet or page in textbook

No radio in car,

No radio on board,

No radio

Already stolen

Not every day

is a good day

They say the ice will hold

so there I go,

Seems like a long time

My brother kept

Clinging to the shark

Or — we had no way of knowing —

he'd swept the path

between fallen

I don't know if we're in the beginning

Let's make a change, girl.

Poetry 180 / A Poem a Day for American High Schools
Hosted by Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2001-2003