We can outsmart ourselves
By building an answer
To every question
Before they are asked
Giving ourselves a bit
Of status
On our way out
Of facing some
Unpleasant truth
We'd be better off
Looking in the eye.
_
Dennis Paul Wilken is a prolific poet, sketch-artist, veteran journalist and Senior Literary Editor for The Commonline Journal. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and is a former Staff Writer for Cincinnati Magazine. His poem "Outcomes" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2011. His first chapbook is called Sweat Off the Diamond (2009). His recent chapbook Poetry Factory (2017) is forthcoming from Imperative Papers.
By building an answer
To every question
Before they are asked
Giving ourselves a bit
Of status
On our way out
Of facing some
Unpleasant truth
We'd be better off
Looking in the eye.
_
Dennis Paul Wilken is a prolific poet, sketch-artist, veteran journalist and Senior Literary Editor for The Commonline Journal. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and is a former Staff Writer for Cincinnati Magazine. His poem "Outcomes" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2011. His first chapbook is called Sweat Off the Diamond (2009). His recent chapbook Poetry Factory (2017) is forthcoming from Imperative Papers.