Poetry

Both these items from NPR.

First, most recently, an interview by Terri Gross of W.S. Merwin. Hard to hear him, but I got this quote out of it:

“One is so caught up in middle years & the idea of accomplishing something when in fact the full accomplishment is always with us*.”

(* He actually said "...the full accomplishment is always with one" but I think it sounds better if you substitute the word "us" -- I mean, who talks like that? Do poets really talk like that??)

Second (earlier, perhaps last week), something I heard during evening rush hour. Robert Siegal interviewing Ethan Coen. Made me laugh out loud. Oh, it rang so true! Reading by William Macy was pitch perfect.

'The Drunken Driver Has the Right Of Way'
by Ethan Coen

The loudest have the final say,
The wanton win, the rash hold sway,
The realist's rules of order say
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The Kubla Khan can butt in line;
The biggest brute can take what's mine;
When heavyweights break wind, that's fine;
No matter what a judge might say,
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The guiltiest feel free of guilt;
Who care not, bloom; who worry, wilt;
Plans better laid are rarely built
For forethought seldom wins the day;
The drunken driver has the right of way.

The most attentive and unfailing
Carefulness is unavailing
Wheresoever fools are flailing;
Wisdom there is held at bay;,
The drunken driver has the right of way.

De jure is de facto's slave;
The most foolhardy beat the brave;
Brass routs restraint; low lies high's grave;
When conscience leads you, it's astray;
The drunken driver has the right of way.

It's only the naivest who'll
Deny this, that the reckless rule;
When facing an oncoming fool
The practiced and sagacious say
Watch out — one side — look sharp — gang way.
However much you plan and pray,
Alas, alack, tant pis, oy vey,
Now — heretofore — til Judgment Day,
The drunken driver has the right of way.