This is the most complete selection of work by 2005 Texas State Poet Laureate Alan Birkelbach ever put in one volume. It brings together selections that represent his more recognizable pieces, work that has only been available in journals, work that has only been available in books that are out of print or unavailable, plus a generous selection of new work.



In Case of Poetry Reading Break Glass

 

It is almost certain this is a scenario that will never happen:

if someone spontaneously combusts while reading something

by Bukowski then perhaps they should be allowed to burn.

Then let's all go for the axe.



Of course, the sign there would read, "In case of fire break glass,"

and inside the tiny little alcove,

the shelf barely big enough to hold an ancient dwarf mummy,

would be a poetry book



which most of us, I fear, would not know how to use.

We would stare blankly at it for several seconds,

wondering what possible good it could do us,

how it might yet save our lives.