Three Poems – Kevin Rabas

[Dying Favor]

I ask you
..to take this cup
from me. I don’t want
..to die alone
in a white room
..some Monday,
my lungs
..full, but
without
..a breath left.

[TV]

…….I.
…….You can stop the TV,
…….get off your phone, and write.
…….It may hurt
…….to think, but you can.

…….II.
…….If you don’t write
……….or make songs
…….or paint, you have
……….to go and live in some
…….other person’s dream.

[unintended birthday gift]

The neighbors have it,
the pastor and his 6 kids,
held a bday party
the night before
the lockdown started,
and now they’ve got it,
every single one.

Past Poet Laureate of Kansas (2017-2019) Kevin Rabas teaches at Emporia State University, where he leads the poetry and playwriting tracks and chairs the Department of English, Modern Languages, and Journalism. He has thirteen books, including Lisa’s Flying Electric Piano, a Kansas Notable Book and Nelson Poetry Book Award winner. He is the recipient of the Emporia State President’s and Liberal Arts & Sciences Awards for Research and Creativity, and he is the winner of the Langston Hughes Award for Poetry.

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