Instructions to Myself Before Writing a Love Poem
by Paul Dickey
Be patient,
see if you
think of an image.
Words which are right
but not right
or they are too soon,
though they make
her wonder
where they have been
all your life.
Say something
everyone has said,
and never
will know how to say.
Because
only when it is
yours
can you give it away.
About the Author
Paul Dickey has appeared recently in Plume, The Midwest Quarterly, Laurel Review, I-70 Review, Plainsongs, failbetter.com, and Apple Valley Review. His recent book of poetry volume was released in September, 2022, in Anti-Realism in Shadows and Suppertime, and a poetry chapbook, A Reading of Dali (Likely Misunderstood) Which is Twenty Meters Becomes This Poet's Self-portrait.