December 2016
Jeff Burt
jeff-burt@sbcglobal.net
jeff-burt@sbcglobal.net
Living on the back of my tongue are certain cadences of speech, certain whimsical warpings of words as found in Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories, especially "The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle and Who Was in It." The ability to say nonsense, like Suess, like Sandburg, like the Mother Goose rhymes, and convey a deeper meaning, is a prized quality from childhood that at times remains in the adult. The poem was written for a public reading that included grade schoolers, high schoolers, and adults.
Haves and Have-Nots
The Haves have
what the Have-nots have
only have more, and have
what the Have-nots have not,
and the Have-nots
try not to have
what the Haves have
but have the want to have
since they have not,
and the Haves say they have
given up trying to have
but having does what having does best
and that’s more having.
So the Haves try not having by giving
and the Have-nots try it, too,
giving to the those who do not have
and even do not have-not,
the Have-not Nots
who have no have to not have
and no have-not to not.
And thus for a moment
in giving away
the Have-nots have
and the Haves have not,
in passing from one
to another, all knotted up.
Read at the Felton Public Library Poetry Month
Haves and Have-Nots
The Haves have
what the Have-nots have
only have more, and have
what the Have-nots have not,
and the Have-nots
try not to have
what the Haves have
but have the want to have
since they have not,
and the Haves say they have
given up trying to have
but having does what having does best
and that’s more having.
So the Haves try not having by giving
and the Have-nots try it, too,
giving to the those who do not have
and even do not have-not,
the Have-not Nots
who have no have to not have
and no have-not to not.
And thus for a moment
in giving away
the Have-nots have
and the Haves have not,
in passing from one
to another, all knotted up.
Read at the Felton Public Library Poetry Month
©2016 Jeff Burt