WEBVTT

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Well poets, we know, take
material from other source,

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to other poets and borrow
or steal or beg other lines.

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And this poem begins
with two lines

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I took directly from
the beginning of a poem

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by another poet.

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I'd never heard of this poet
before, except for this poem.

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His name is Jacques Crickillon.

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All I know is that he's Belgian.

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But knowing the generosity
of the Belgians,

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I'm sure he wouldn't mind
if I took these two lines.

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So his poem begins thus.

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"You are the bread and the
knife, the crystal goblet

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and the wine."

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And so I used those for the
beginning of my poem, which

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is called "Litany."

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"You are the bread and the
knife, the crystal goblet

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and the wine.

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You are the dew on
the morning grass

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and the burning
wheel of the sun.

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You are the white apron of
the baker and the marsh birds

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suddenly in flight.

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However you are not the
wind in the orchard,

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the plums on the counter
or the house of cards.

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And you are certainly
not the pine-scented air.

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There is no way you are
the pine-scented air.

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It is possible that you are
the fish under the bridge.

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Maybe even the pigeon
on the general's head.

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But you are not even close to
being the field of corn flowers

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at dusk.

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And a quick look
in the mirror will

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show that you are neither
the boots in the corner

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nor the boat asleep
and its boathouse.

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It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful

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imagery of the world, that I am
the sound of rain on the roof.

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I also happen to be the shooting
star, the evening paper blowing

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down an alley, and the basket of
chestnuts on the kitchen table.

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I am also the moon and the trees
in the blind woman's teacup.

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But don't worry.

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I am not the bread or the knife.

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You are still the
bread and the knife.

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You will always be the
bread and the knife.

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Not to mention the crystal
goblet, and somehow the wine.

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[APPLAUSE]

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