My son asks if famous poets are rich
whether I'm going to be rich

He says he imagines the poet laureate of the world
living in a grand mansion - the White House of verse
except that it would be magenta or vermilion
because poets like colors that are difficult to pronounce, don't they?

And he wonders if the poet laureate of the world
has a gorgeous soprano singing him arias 24/7
to lure any available muse right onto the veranda
where he writes looking out at pastures
cows grazing, horses neighing
a butler in white shirt and tail coat always bringing him
Pepsi poured over crushed ice, fizzing and cold

My son wets his lips above which a thin row of fine hair
is desperately trying to sprout and asks me to please
become a rich poet, the poet laureate of the world
because he likes the idea of living in a vermilion mansion
and a butler with a tray glued to his palm
eternally carrying a fizzing soda and perhaps even a sandwich
for his majesty the laureate prince

Sholeh Wolpé is the author of The Scar Saloon (Red Hen Press, October 2004) and has a CD by the same title. Her poems, translations and reviews have been published in many literary journals, periodicals and anthologies in the U.S., Canada and Europe, Middle East and Asia. More information: http://www.sholehwolpe.com.