Dave Nielsen

In Praise of the Great Ones

When a great poet begins writing mainly about poems—
the act of writing itself—

we all know the end is near.
This is not to say endings can’t be gorgeous,

even glorious—the prow of the Titanic
above the black ocean,

the thoroughbred’s heart
bursting at the finish line.

A minor, minor-poet,
I excuse myself.

It is more like peeing on a bonfire.
The heat feels good.

And though I aim carefully,
what difference does it make?

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Dave Nielsen earned a master’s degree in English from Brigham Young University. He is currently a PhD student in English at the University of Cincinnati. His poems have appeared in Cutbank, Tar River Poetry, and other journals.