Simple Truth

after John Newlove

Not to sit here, sit
in this room
with no one,
never to be
with my new poem
sitting new -

it is the same
each time
and I will lie
again, be new again,
alone with my new poem -

it is the same each time
and I lie each time,
there is nothing new,
not the poem or I.

Not to sit here, smoke
and think -
but I do and will again
sit here
and write, with ease,
my lies
to you
and myself.