I'd like to do an early poem for you.
I don't read this very often, because I
don't read most of my early poems anymore, I recite them,
but I'm running a little short of poems,
and I have some more I want to do.
This is really one that--
I consider this perhaps the best poem I've ever written,
but I don't think most people that know
my work would agree with me.
And I did it long, long time ago, over 20 years ago I guess,
now it's called Duwamish.
And Duwamish is this Seattle's big river
which comes into Elliott Bay there in Seattle.
Midwestern in the heat this river's curves are
slow and sick--
midwestern in the heat this river's curves are slow
and sick
Water knocks at Mills and concrete plants
and crud compounds the--
I'm sorry I can't do it.
I know it, but I can't do it.
Oh I'll do it a love poem.
I'll do a love poem for you.
That's it.