A Primer of the Daily Round

Howard Nemerov

 
A peels an apple, while B kneels to God,
C telephones to D, who has a hand
On E’s knee, F coughs, G turns up the sod
For H’s grave, I do not understand
But J is bringing one clay pigeon down
While K brings down a nightstick on L’s head,
And M takes mustard, N drives to town,
O goes to bed with P, and Q drops dead,
R lies to S, but happens to be heard
By T, who tells U not to fire V
For having to give W the word
That X is now deceiving Y with Z,
     Who happens, just now to remember A
      Peeling an apple somewhere far away.
 
From New and Selected Poems by Howard Nemerov, published by the University of Chicago Press. Copyright © 1960 by Howard Nemerov. Reprinted with the permission of Margaret Nemerov. All rights reserved.

Poems by This Author

Because You Asked about the Line Between Prose and Poetry by Howard Nemerov
Sparrows were feeding in a freezing drizzle
Found Poem by Howard Nemerov
The population center of the USA
Long Distance by Howard Nemerov
Pockets by Howard Nemerov
Are generally over or around