Drogi panie Sommer
Once a long time ago we met in a classroom
I sat towards the back of the room listening to you read poetry
to undergraduate students too bored to hear you beyond your accent
for some reason I smiled since I'd already read your poems in English
translation you took note of my smile when you wrote an inscription inside
my copy of your book I ordered from England a Bloodaxe edition
that day I was happy to meet you a Polish poet in Chicago
the university hosted your reception where I often sold books
to graduate students and tenured professors who could afford the cost
of a poetry book widely circulated through a distributor
but such was not the case with your book in the States waiting publication
so I got my copy ordered from Great Britain signed by you with a note
how sweet was that moment for myself and for you you seemed happy also
I wish I could remain in that state of surprise and joy just to listen
to you read your poems as you must have traveled a very long distance
to speak in Chicago and meet an Indian born in what was Bombay
the astronomical likelihood that we meet was so remarkable
I still look back fondly to hear you read poems to tired bored students
I was a bookseller in Hyde Park just happy to smile sit and attend
a reading of poems by a Polish poet my friend Mr Sommer
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