A Shallow Poet Poem by Regis Auffray

A Shallow Poet


She is a poet

I love hawks
she said
Do you?

I love hawks too
I said
and eagles
I hate starlings
English sparrows
crows
pigeons most of the time
and even many gulls

She said
I love English sparrows
and pigeons
Pigeons get picked on by people

Are you shallow?
she asked

Am I a shallow poet?
Perhaps I am
A poet cannot be shallow
Lest he be an impostor

I ponder

Perhaps she's right
I still hate starlings