February 2016
Bruce Dethlefsen
poetdethlefsen@gmail.com
It's the music in the words in poetry that make it so human. I volunteer in Wisconsin prisons, giving poetry writing prompts and I'm always amazed with the word pictures the men who live there paint and the songs they sing.​  I play in a couple of bands, one blues and one Celtic music.  I've taught over a thousand people to juggle.  I wrote "White Stallions" [below] in Guatemala when I was there training rural librarians.​  www.brucedethlefsen.com


I think we need to share our sadness to ease our burden.
Cry Me

you stub your toe we go to war
there’s a tumor on the brain
the sun might rise too beautifully
a daughter dies in the rain

if you need someone
to cry with and you will
try me
I'll hold you till
you say you're done
when all the tears 
have come
and when you go away
and yes you will
I'll gladly hold your tears
inside my eyes
until you need some
then I'll sadly cry them back​

 ​"Cry Me" was originally published in Breather (Fireweed Press, c2009).​
©2016 Bruce Dethlefsen