Stephen Dunn
Yes, I’m back to Stephen Dunn again. He is fast becoming one of my favorite poets. This is the fourth poem (I think) I’ve posted by him. For information about him, his life, and his career, please have a look here.
This poem feels quite personal to me. I AM one of the people who has a hard time saying what I need or want. But I had never spent any time pondering how that meant I fit into the world. So this poem gave me a lot of food for thought. It made me wonder if people really ARE one or the other…
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From the Manifesto of the Selfish
Because altruists are the least sexy
people on earth, unable
to say “ I want” without embarrassment,
we need to take from them everything
they give,
then ask for more,
this is how to excite them, and because
it’s exciting
to see them the last bit excited
once again we’ll be doing something
for ourselves,
who have no problem taking pleasure,
always desirous and so pleased to be
pleased, we who above all
can be trusted to keep the balance.
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Picture Credit: www.azquotes.com
wow! This was really insightful. Hum….chewing this one over. I read it 3 times. He is witty. I can see why you like him! Thanks for posting this.
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I know Dunn is not this kind of person. His other poems would bear that out. But I do KNOW people who wear that exact attitude like a mantle, as if they are doing the world a favor by being so self-absorbed. Unfortunately I am the one who is afraid to say “I want.” Or worse yet, “I need.” The poem sat like a rock in my gut for awhile.
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I believe in give and take. I promise to take all you can give.
That was a nice poem Cheryl – I can see why you like him.
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Interestingly, though I bought his paperback “Between Angels” and didn’t find even one poem I gravitated to in it. I guess sometimes it’s just hit and miss.
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Dunn is great. Thanks for this reminder.
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You’re welcome!
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