I LISTENED OVER AND OVER AGAINTO THE POEMS I LOVE br br I listened over and over again br To the poems I love br Poems I have known for many years br I heard them in myself br Missing a word here and there br Forgetting a line and wondering where Memory had gone- br br I listened over and over again br To the poems I loved so much br Some I knew by heart br Many I knew many lines of- br br Were they mine really? br Did they shape my soul? br br Why did I love them so much? br br The poems of others br Recited again and again br Within myself br br Old friends br Who will still be here br After I have gone br br Old friends br Who have given me so much.