National Poetry Month

　　by Elaine Equi

　　 When a poem speaks by itself，it has a spark

　　 and can be considered part of a divine conversation.

　　 Sometimes the poem weaves like a basket around two loaves of yellow bread.

　　 "Break off a piece of this April with its raisin nipples，" it says.

　　 "And chew them slowly under your pillow. You belong in bed with me."

　　 On the other hand，when a poem speaks in the voice of a celebrity

　　 it is called television or a movie. "There is nothing to see，"

　　 say Robert De Niro，though his poem bleeds all along the edges

　　 like a puddle crudely outlined with yellow tape

　　 at the crime scene of spring.

　　 "It is an old poem，" he adds.

　　 "And besides，I was very young when I made it."

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