About Them

& then
there are them
who must always
always talk about
about themselves
not in poetry
where it is permitted
but at dinner &
on the telephone &
anywhere else
they sense an ear
will absorb their
selfsame warbles &
when they tire of singing
they want to be sung to
& they want lyrics
about them
always about them &
what they are like &
what you think
about them &
never do they tire
of this routine
day in &
day out.


[September, 1998]