Submit a Poem
Get Your Premium Membership
spacer
Pinterest button


Photo of Russell Edson

Edson, Russell

One of the foremost writer of prose poetry in the United States.. American poet novelist writer and illustrator

Email Poem - AccidentsEmail Poem

Accidents

 The barber has accidentally taken off an ear. It lies like 
something newborn on the floor in a nest of hair.
 Oops, says the barber, but it musn't've been a very good 
ear, it came off with very little complaint.
 It wasn't, says the customer, it was always overly waxed. 
I tried putting a wick in it to burn out the wax, thus to find my 
way to music. But lighting it I put my whole head on fire. It 
even spread to my groin and underarms and to a nearby 
forest. I felt like a saint. Someone thought I was a genius.
 That's comforting, says the barber, still, I can't send you 
home with only one ear. I'll have to remove the other one. But 
don't worry, it'll be an accident.
 Symmetry demands it. But make sure it's an accident, I 
don't want you cutting me up on purpose.
 Maybe I'll just slit your throat.
 But it has to be an accident . . .



Comments