it amazes me that
a notable American poet
achieved poetic fame
in American and abroad
writing many great poems
while often intoxicated
and kept writing them
through years of getting drunk
and surviving rocky relationships
he should have been given
some kind of esteemed medal
for his undeterred persistence
to his celebrated poetic art
despite all that drinking
and all that drunkenness
hail to his unfailing tenacity
hail to his great success
bob boyd