I Eat Poetry

for Joe Cardarelli

when young I was awed by authority
figures

even imitation
authority figures (people

who yearned
to be thought authority figures

I used to resent that reaction
in myself

& believed that it was
my fault

in some sense or at least
my mistake

but now I know
that I was not to blame

those people
really are awful

as for the rest
make sure you're reading

what you think you're reading

--Anselm Hollo