MINORS

As part of our program
Of cultural outreach
Zheng Qi, a minor poet
Of the Tang dynasty,
Will chair a discussion
With minor Georgian poet
Lascelles Abercrombie,
And minor Greek poet
Erinna of Lesbos.
It is advisable
To arrive early.
There are no microphones
Abercrombie mutters
And we have no translator
For Zheng Qi. Errina
Intends to stay silent,
Protesting Fate
For allowing
Only four lines
Of all her poems
To survive. We will,
As always,
Serve refreshments
But they will not
Be very satisfying.

PLAYING IN THE MINORS

Hortense Flexner says a minor poet
Can be told by his or her lack
Of invisible banners. Also, she says,
Words never choke him.
I was set upon by words in Chicago
In late 1974; they left me bloody
But didn't try to choke me.
I'm pretty sure a gang of words
Stole a bag of raisins from my desk
Some time in the late 1990s.
These probably don't count.
Also, I have searched my house
From attic to cellar without seeing
Any invisible banners.