Poems About Stevie Smith by Top Critiquers

( after Stevie Smith )

When I was young, I wondered
why the crucifixion was depicted
behind the altar of a church;

or, worn around the neck—
Jesus agonizingly wrenched, looking up
or down as if in eternal rest

I thought to myself, what is my purpose;
how would I want to be remembered
should I meet a violent end—

not in the agony of the moment:
even in youth, I knew that much—
but, sharing life and love instead

I imagined an energy shift
from a guilt-ridden reminder
of...

the only poet I ever imagined making love with was stevie smith and I expect she’d have had something to say about that