Frost Notes

Anthology

Philip Nikolayev

What happens when a Russian-born poet embeds a dialog with Frost into a contemporary poem?    In this case the imaginary Frost dialogue energizes the new form within the poem of voices that Frost pioneered. 

 Frost Reminisces 
On Doing Farming 
Just North of Boston

Fran shows up mornings every once a while

with certain kinds of service or delivery.

"Who goes there?" "Bob, I bought your fertilizer.

I missed our pranks the time I was away."

"Oh, thank you , Frank.  I missed ya too, old bud.

How much ya got there?" "Seven hundred pounds."

"A sizable amount. I'm so obliged."

"Don't mention it, it's fair for your good money."

"One hopes."  "But I'm plain positive it's true"

"Now, here's the pay." "Amen, I feel rewarded."

Our hands we shake, our morning faces shine

with satisfaction from a warm transaction.

He thinks, poets are wicked generous with their purse.

I say, good neighbors make good fertilizer

 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Philip Nikolayev's second book MONKEY TIME, is published by Verse Press of Amherst, Massachusetts (versepress.org). 

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 Poem copyright 2004 by Philip Nikolayev, and here reprinted with the permission of Verse Press..