About Jodey Bateman Pablo Neruda Translations by Jodey Bateman Contributors Abuela Musica Jalapeno Peppers Children’s Page Finder Submissions

The Poet | Poem

 
THE POET

 Everyday, every minute, 
 People with their language 
 Build guillotines. 
 Everybody's mind is 
 Chopped off. 

 The poet's job is to wrap 
 A thick cloth tightly around his ears, 
 Dig in the dark waters of a wild swamp 
 To find new words 
 That are not executioners. 

- Duane Locke
 
 

to Duane      to Moongate