My favorite poem is "Binding The Dragon" by May Sarton. My guess is
that Jerri wouldn't like it. I tried looking for it online, but
couldn't find it.
This is what I can remember of it:
"The dragon's Proteus. He must be fought,
For fighting dragons is my holy joy."
The poet said, though he looked caught
And blood was spurting from one eye.
"Sublimate," said the patient analyst.
The poet said "Let him do it first.
I've got this dragon in my fist.
I'll hold him there 'til he dies of thirst."
But suddenly the dragon flows away.
The dragon is a river.
You can't hold up a river
In your hands all day.
"What is sublimation?" asked the poet.
"Is it (don't remember most of this verse until...)
Or riding a cycle with no handlebar?"
"Is it gentling a dragon to lie quiet there
Beautiful in his power, but asleep.
Image of dragon resting on the air?"
The poet asked, and then began to weep.
He did not want the dragon to be caught.
He wanted it alive and in his fist.
For who would kill the god with whom he fought?
So he wept and cursed the analyst.
Shomeret's comment-- I've never seen a poem about the creative process
that I've liked as much as this one. I wish I could remember the
lines I've forgotten. I used to be able to recite this poem.
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