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Portrait of the poet as midwife


by sean m. poole


Some poems slip out easily
Thick and solid
Well-oiled and fully formed

Others must be coaxed out

Cajoled and courted
Labored over
Twisted and tweaked 

Brought forth with grunting and
Bearing down

Pushed from the birth canal
Grabbed by the ankles
Slippery and dripping

Smacked on the arse
Until they scream aloud
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