WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.298 align:middle line:90%


00:00:04.298 --> 00:00:06.590 align:middle line:84%
I'm going to read a couple
of poems from my first book.

00:00:06.590 --> 00:00:14.170 align:middle line:90%


00:00:14.170 --> 00:00:20.020 align:middle line:84%
This one is called
"The Chess Player."

00:00:20.020 --> 00:00:21.430 align:middle line:84%
And we were out
to dinner earlier

00:00:21.430 --> 00:00:25.630 align:middle line:84%
and I was asked at dinner, do
I get nervous before readings.

00:00:25.630 --> 00:00:28.750 align:middle line:84%
And I was recounting
when this book came out

00:00:28.750 --> 00:00:30.280 align:middle line:84%
and the very first
reading-- this

00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:32.500 align:middle line:90%
was the very first poem I read.

00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:34.570 align:middle line:90%
I was so nervous.

00:00:34.570 --> 00:00:36.910 align:middle line:84%
My leg was shaking
so much, I honestly

00:00:36.910 --> 00:00:39.430 align:middle line:90%
felt I might fall to the ground.

00:00:39.430 --> 00:00:44.210 align:middle line:84%
You know, when your legs just--
you think you're going to fall,

00:00:44.210 --> 00:00:45.460 align:middle line:90%
which is how I feel right now.

00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:46.040 align:middle line:90%
[LAUGHTER]

00:00:46.040 --> 00:00:47.380 align:middle line:90%
Same thing.

00:00:47.380 --> 00:00:49.780 align:middle line:90%
[LAUGHTER]

00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:51.340 align:middle line:90%
"The Chess Player."

00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:52.210 align:middle line:90%
They've left.

00:00:52.210 --> 00:00:53.170 align:middle line:90%
They've all left.

00:00:53.170 --> 00:00:54.460 align:middle line:90%
The pigeon feeders have left.

00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:56.230 align:middle line:84%
The old men on the
benches have left.

00:00:56.230 --> 00:00:58.960 align:middle line:84%
The white gloved ladies with
the Great Danes have left.

00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:01.300 align:middle line:84%
The lovers who thought
about coming have left.

00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:03.790 align:middle line:84%
The man in the three
piece suit has left.

00:01:03.790 --> 00:01:06.460 align:middle line:84%
The man who was a three
piece band has left.

00:01:06.460 --> 00:01:09.190 align:middle line:84%
The man and the milk crate
with the bible has left.

00:01:09.190 --> 00:01:11.470 align:middle line:90%
Even the birds have left.

00:01:11.470 --> 00:01:14.710 align:middle line:84%
Now, the trees are
thinking about leaving too.

00:01:14.710 --> 00:01:17.950 align:middle line:84%
And the grass is trying
to turn itself in.

00:01:17.950 --> 00:01:20.830 align:middle line:84%
Of course, the
buses no longer pass

00:01:20.830 --> 00:01:23.380 align:middle line:90%
and the children no longer ask.

00:01:23.380 --> 00:01:27.160 align:middle line:84%
The air wants to go
and is in discussions.

00:01:27.160 --> 00:01:30.210 align:middle line:84%
The clouds are trying
to steer clear.

00:01:30.210 --> 00:01:33.450 align:middle line:84%
The sky is reaching
for its hands.

00:01:33.450 --> 00:01:37.440 align:middle line:84%
Even the moon sees what's
going on but the stars remain

00:01:37.440 --> 00:01:41.970 align:middle line:84%
in the dark as does the chess
player who sits with all

00:01:41.970 --> 00:01:44.690 align:middle line:90%
his pieces in position.

00:01:44.690 --> 00:01:48.000 align:middle line:90%