What I'm Reading #90

Apropos of my recent post on the Pike Place Market in Seattle, I share this volume of poetry by a northwestern poet and which I purchased at a little bookshop at the Pike Place Market.  Tom Crawford was a new poet to me, and in a freakishly sweet turn of events--this copy was signed by the poet.  The inscription reads "For Tom from Tom, Good Meeting You".  And thus I met Tom via his poems through which he explores a deeper understanding of himself and his place in the world.  Stellar.

Here's a sample:

RAIN

Rain in Chongqing is pretty much

like rain in Portland--

it comes down wet from Heaven

and when it's sudden,

without warning

in both cities people shriek

and scatter.  Newspapers double

for umbrellas,

dirty sidewalks glisten,

a mother runs out

to pull in her little boy.

Flags go up everywhere

in excitement-- "We surrender,

we surrender."

~ Tom Crawford, 1939 -

I feel completely at ease in recommending this poet to one and all.