portraitinflesh

A poet came to class today, and broke my heart

The only great thing that has ever happened in my poetry class happened today, my prof invited a man to come read his poems to us. He is about 70ish and he is a Organic Chemistry professor on campus, he is also from Poland, and grew up during World War II, and left in the 80's because he was in trouble with the communists. His wife died in a car acccident a number of years ago, and he carries a miniature photo of her on the strap of his watch. He was so sweet and beautiful and he broke my heart when he read his poems to me.

"I write on Small Pieces of Paper
each I put
into an envelope hanging
above your picture
as if putting them into a mail box
even though they dont disappear
I know they reach you

I Wanted to Attach Your
miniature to my leather
watch strap
the familiar shoemaker
glanced at me
and said nothing
he only nodded his head
thank you,
for your subtleness,shoemaker,
was it created
by the company of shoes?