Delights and Shadows

Delights and Shadows

from the depths of this plastic bag,
hidden within the soft fabric of
well-worn volunteer ranger shirts
and gardening books, I find
a slim volume of poetry
called Delights and Shadows.
A single author, unknown to me,
I open it to read a poem or two
before drifting off to sleep,
poetry often being a good sleep aid.
I read two, three, four poems, five
seven, so vibrant, alive, real….
real life, nothing obscure,
this is great poetry! I yell it out
for the raccoons to hear in the side yard,
the ghost upstairs who comes at 3 a.m.,
whoever else happens to be out and about.
who is this author?
Ted Kooser, Poet Laureate of
the United States of America.
I wonder if he has a fan club
I can join.