This poem br is friendly: br see, it’s wagging its tail, br it will follow you anywhere, br run off and come back, br a perfect companion; br br this poem br loves fun: br you want to play dressing up, br it’ll laugh and rush off to the attic, br the basement, the dressing-up basket; br br this poem br is serious: br you want to be silent awhile, br rest your head on its shoulder, br it will wait for you in br sympathetic stillness; br br this poem br is humble: br turn it over, write br a love poem on br the other side, br it will glow with your love; br br this poem br is disposable: br write a few lines, be angry br with yourself, scrumple it up, br throw it on the pavement, br someone may pick it up, br someone may tutt and place it br carefully for recycling; br br this poem br is an origami: br you can make any shape you like: br a paper boat on br the waves of destiny; br br a ladder to reach to where br you always wanted that fruit; br a crown; a dunce’s hat; a witch’s conic; br br this poem br is elastic: br a tablecloth for a picnic, br a sheet to cover two lovers, br a ground plan for a new world; br br this poem br knows where br nothing meets something, br nowhere meets everywhere, br no time meets all time, br anyone meets everyone, br br this poem br has a bright eye br whether you read it or not; br br this poem br likes you though it br hasn’t met you; br br this poem br is impervious to scorn; br it knows who it is, br and where things begin and end.