Robert Caro’s papers right on this street
at the New York Historical Society
Robert Caro brilliant methodical
What a Writer LBJ, Robert Moses,
he gave the museum his papers even
calendars where he recorded how many words
he wrote each day (some days I write just two:
No Words) and his words are always Worth Reading
(how is that possible?)
This week I bought a new notebook
still takes forever to buy a new notebook
how far apart should the lines be and how
big to fit whatever bag I take
and then there is the cover question
I bought a new notebook to record
signs of light miracles too big a word
just signs of light and when the too thin
Brooklyn salesman asked
what the notebook was for I told him
and he said That’s Not a Good Idea.
Why not I asked. There are no signs of light he said.
You’re wrong I told him. Absolutely wrong.
Look how many notebooks there are in this store.
Draw back the curtain of darkness, write us a light!
Do you still write your poems on a notebook first, or directly on a computer? And do you write by candlelight ( like in the good very old days) or electric light? Happy 7th night of Chanukah!