Each and every year I’ve found
words in something someone else said
Then I just
“Copy and Paste”

This time I’m being accountable
not resting on the shoulders of
Stevens
Merwin
O’Hara
or
Frost

It’s about time I take my voice
and speak with it in my tongue
rather than someone elses
for my own means

Twenty-five times around this sun
and I’m finally learning:
That everything you give
comes back
The only person who controls you
is you when you roll out of bed
And in the end
it doesn’t matter who’s your friend and who isn’t
but how you really truly loved those who were
and loved even more those who weren’t

I’ve wasted too much time
on someone else’s words
It’s been damn well long enough

But that’s learning.

-Adam J. Cohen; 30 January 2008