February 2003
at the University there's currently a class
on writing the long poem: I would have
to write a very long poem to compass
the 30 plus years of camaraderie with
John. He has written some pretty long
poems himself but now he's into short
and may refine his art down to one word
he is heading that way like the cellist
who played one note over and over day
in and day out; when his wife said why
don't you play all up and down the
fingerboard like Yo Yo Ma he said
"He's looking for his note – I've already
found mine!"– but here is my short poem
to John another will come in a future week.
2023 Jacqueline Jackson
