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It is pleasant to lie on the rocky shore in the sun
exposed and open. It's all there--the sound of
wind, the sound of waves--the meaningless
journal of a lifetime. Nothing is clear, not even
the obvious. One loses interest and falls asleep
within the water's easy reach.
This driftwood on the beach, dry and bleached
white, white as a bone you might say, or white
as snow. If an artist (wearing a sweatshirt, blue
jeans and tennis shoes without socks) came
walking along, he might, seeing the possibilities,
pick up this piece of driftwood and take it home.
Not me. I fling it back in the water.
From Before You Know It: Prose Poems 1970 - 2005 (Will o' the Wisp Books, 2009)
Used with the author's permission.
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Louis Jenkins (1942 - 2019) was a native of Oklahoma, but lived in Duluth, Minnesota, for 40+ years. The state's natural beauty was a constant source of inspiration for his work, which was often humorous and always thought-provoking. Considered a master of prose poetry, Louis authored sixteen books and was featured in numerous anthologies. He claimed that pleasure, clarity, and empathy are among the most essential characteristics of a poem.
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Larry Schug:
Louis Jenkins was/is one of Minnesota's greatest poets and one of my all-time favorites, well known for his prose poems. Thank you so much for this, Jayne. Yes, may driftwood always drift, even as it passes through human hands.
Posted 06/24/2025 09:40 AM
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EstherJ:
Funny!
Posted 06/24/2025 09:39 AM
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