Edited and Introduced by Wesley McNair, Maine Poet Laureate
Love’s inspiration can come from anywhere, even a delivery truck — and so today’s poem by Alice Persons of Westbrook, the editor and publisher of Maine’s Moon Pie Press.
Why I Have A Crush On You, UPS Man
by Alice N. Personsyou bring me all the things I order
are never in a bad mood
always have a jaunty wave as you drive away
look good in your brown shorts
we have an ideal uncomplicated relationship
you’re like a cute boyfriend with great legs
who always brings the perfect present
(why, it’s just what I’ve always wanted!)
and then is considerate enough to go away
oh, UPS Man, let’s hop in your clean brown truck and elope!
ditch your job, I’ll ditch mine
let’s hit the road for Brownsville
and tempt each other
with all the luscious brown foods—
roast beef, dark chocolate,
brownies, Guinness, homemade pumpernickel, molasses cookies
I’ll make you my mama’s bourbon pecan pie
we’ll give all the packages to kind-looking strangers
live in a cozy wood cabin
with a brown dog or two
and a black and brown tabby
I’m serious, UPS Man. Let’s do it.
Where do I sign?
Alice Persons of Westbrook has three poetry chapbooks and a full length collection, Thank Your Lucky Stars (2011). Eight of her poems have been read on The Writer’s Almanac on NPR. She is the publisher of Moon Pie Press, which has listed dozens of poetry books since its inception in 2003.
Take Heart: A Conversation in Poetry is produced in collaboration with the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. Poem copyright © 2007 Alice N. Persons. Reprinted from Don’t Be A Stranger, Sheltering Pines Press, 2007, by permission of Alice N. Persons.
Questions about submitting to Take Heart may be directed to Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Special Consultant to the Maine Poet Laureate, at mainepoetlaureate@gmail.com or 207-228-8263. Take Heart: Poems from Maine, an anthology collecting the first two years of this column, is now available from Down East Books.
