Let's Print It Poem by R.A. Burleigh

For Colin
Glad to hear from you
Although I thought it was someone else

I was in the city talking with an editor
Not long ago and your name came up

Let's print it
He was saying

His face was like yours when you're excited
I had my finger in some Rilke
And he had a highball glass he kept filling with water

I was frightened by the reports of mass executions in Africa
I kept seeing my infant son being killed by a casual soldier

When he read your long poem I thought I heard creek water
I thought how happy the sun striking the tops of clouds made me

My dear friend
How could I fail to recognize your handwriting

RAB