“NEW POEMS, by Robert Graves, 1962”
(From the Public Library)
Three times this book’s been taken from the shelf
including my time, March of’88
since first it won a space in ‘86.
Thin, scantly noticed, like a morning clerk
and millions others scuttling into work
identified by personal bus ticket,
important as a pip inside an orange
and happened to be seen by chance, not want.
Some eighty thousand readers in this town
(barring the cannot-readers) shared it thrice.
No, I’m not moaning…let me make a point.
God bless the poets, Britain needs their brains.
They also serve who help give steady jobs
to paper makers, printers and librarians.
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