Oh, this is a poem called "Verses Versus."
The Latin verses, versus.
Verses versus verses, like Spy vs. Spy.
You read Mad Magazine?
OK.
[LAUGHTER]
Well, if a common assumption is that one's art may cost them
something in one's life, this is based
on the opposite assumption-- that one's life may cost
one something of one's art.
"First there's the courtship, and that's seven poems,
and the marriage costs three.
And then comes the first birth, which
costs more than just several, although succeeding births grow
less expensive, but more routine.
But then there's the children's schooling,
which costs two decades, and 300 or 437 poems
with some interest.
And you worry about borrowing, until one night at dinner,
there's the possibility of retirement,
and you have them disconnect the utilities.
And there go four poems-- gas, oil, water, and electricity.
And a good meal in a restaurant by this time
costs 100 lines, with a sonnet for the tip.
But you wouldn't have it any other way,
and you wouldn't have it any other way.
So you're held up.
And when you sell out, you throw in six thieves and a title
for good measure."
[APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHS]
Some of those jokes are terrible, aren't they?
[LAUGHS] Get out now, while you can.