Mark Strand

Have you ever read a book that you DEVOURED? You ATE up the words and SAVORED their flavor? You wanted it to never end and INDULGED in its pleasure? I sure have. (As you know, Gatsby is a book that I have GOBBLED UP in one bite!) This language of feasting and the decadent consumption of words is featured in a fabulous poem by former US Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Mark Strand. His ingestion of poetry has given him an animalistic joy. The librarian, someone who seemingly lives in a world of words, does not understand this visceral love of poetry. He has taken the words into his body and loves them on a far deeper level.

 Eating Poetry

By Mark Strand 1934–2014 Mark Strand

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.

There is no happiness like mine.

I have been eating poetry.

The librarian does not believe what she sees.

Her eyes are sad

and she walks with her hands in her dress.

The poems are gone.

The light is dim.

The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up.

Their eyeballs roll,

their blond legs burn like brush.

The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep.

She does not understand.

When I get on my knees and lick her hand,

she screams.

I am a new man.

I snarl at her and bark.

I romp with joy in the bookish dark.

 

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Mark Strand, “Eating Poetry” from Selected Poems. Copyright © 1979, 1980 by Mark Strand. Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.

Also check out these other poems by Mark Strand:

"Coming to This"
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/179131

"Keeping Things Whole"
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177001