Poem: Assignment for a poetry class

We had to write a poem that mixed truth and lie, and write it about why we took that poetry class in the first place. It was at PCC Sylvania, with Tim Barnes, a few years ago when I took this class. I found Tim to be a great poetry writing teacher -- poetry is obviously his passion, and he inspires that in his students.

So this poem comes with caveats, as it is not a finished piece, nothing I would read at on stage or anything. But I found it amusing this morning when it showed up on my desk so I thought I'd throw it up here.

               Why I took Poetry Class


     I was a famous poet, see

     Published many times over -- 
          womens' underwear on the stage
          kinda stuff

     And then there was a terrible accident
          involving whales
          and a 2-stroke diesel engine -- 
          I won't go into it here 

     There were also electrocutions, 
          a good number of them -- 
          and chronic pain 

      After which I found myself
       less handsome, 
        older, 
          with shorn hair and a wonderful wife, 
          poetless