Poetry and Polaroids - April 27, 2026

much like photographers,

poets capture the world through

different lenses, hole up in a

dark room and carefully develop

the image on paper

when I put the hardware down

for a day or two, I worry that

I might become addicted

to simply living and stop

imprisoning its moments,

then remember the popularity

of zoos that imprison rare

and exotic animals for study,

that thrill children and

educate the world

Would poetry and I be happier

with a different relationship -

crossing paths in the wild,

innocently, without polaroids -

along paths that cross streams

which have never been dammed

by man?