This Is a Billy Joe Harris Poem

This is a Billy Joe Harris
Poem

It’s the only
Type of poem
I can write

I can’t write
A personal Frank O’Hara
Poem
Even tho
I like them

Or
A very personal
Perhaps too
Personal
Charles Bukowski
Poem
Even tho
I like them too

Dear Reader
For the moment
At least
While you are here
You are stuck
Within a
Billy
Joe
Harris
Poem

What is
It like?
You ask

Well, its
A whole
Lot
Like
Me

How do you judge it?
You ask

Well, I don’t
Really know

But I hope
You
Like
Being
Here
With me

Notes:

This poem was previously published in Locuspoint (2007) and is reprinted here by permission of William J. Harris. It is part of the portfolio “I Hope You Like Being Here with Me: The Work of William J. Harris,” curated by Howard Rambsy II.

Source: Poetry (February 2023)