Internal Migration On Being On Tour

A poem by Alan Dugan

As an American traveler I have

to remember not to get actionably mad

about the way things are around here.

Tomorrow I’ll be a thousand miles away

from the way it is around here. I will

keep my temper, I will not kill the dog

next door, nor will I kill the next-door wife,

both of whom are crazy and aggressive

and think they live at the center of culture

like everyone else in this college town.

This is because I’m leaving, I’m taking off

by car, by light plane, by jet, by taxicab,

for some place else a thousand miles away,

so I caution myself: control your rage,

even if it causes a slight heart attack.

Stay out of jail tonight before you leave,

and don’t get obstreperous in transit tomorrow

so as to stay out of jail on arrival tomorrow night.

Think: the new handcuffs are sharp inside

and meant to cut the wrists. You’re not too old

to be raped in their filthy overcrowded jails

and you’ll lose your glasses and false teeth.

How would you eat, study and be

a traveling lecturer if you got out alive and sane?

So remember to leave this place peacefully,

it’s only Asshole State University at Nowheresville,

and remember to get to the next place peacefully,

it’s only Nowhere State University at Assholesville

and you must travel from place to place for food and shelter.

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Poems in English 

• On Hermocratia (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On Flaxman’s Penelope by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On Flatteries (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On Female Inconstancy (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On Envy (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On Delia (Bid Adieu, My Sad Heart) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On An Ugly Fellow (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On An Old Woman (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On An Infant (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A True Friend (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Thief (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Spaniel, Called Beau, Killing A Young Bird by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Similar Character (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Plant Of Virgin’s-Bower, Designed To Cover A Garden-seat by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Mistake In His Translation Of Homer by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Miser (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Miser, 3 (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Miser, 2 (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Mischievous Bull, Which The Owner Him Sold At The Author’s Instance by William Cowper by William Cowper
• On A Good Man (From The Greek) by William Cowper by William Cowper

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Duckduckgo – the real alternative and a search engine that actually works. Without much censorship or partisan politics.

Yahoo– yes, it’s still around, amazingly, miraculously, incredibly, but now it seems to be powered by Bing.

 

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