THE DINNER PARTY This poem was inspired by Billy Collins’ quirky poems. He was U.S. poet laureate from 2001 - 2003. It was also inspired by a Seinfeld comedy bit (when we were kids, our mom would say, “don’t eat that it will spoil your appetite. As adults we know it is impossible to spoil an appetite, they are in exhaustible, they come one after the other!”) So, here is the poem: I tried to be creative once I wasn’t certain what that meant But I had heard It is surely a good thing. So I took out figurative pen and paper My hands poised over the keyboard ... And my fingers wouldn’t move ... Could creativity be this hard? Then I looked up the definition Halfway expecting it to say If you have to look it up You’re never going to get it. This quest to be creative Started with an invite I received one day to a dinner party with friends that asked to bring something creative. “Able to think or produce new things” was the definition that I found. I knew then that my quest Was all but fulfilled I went eagerly to the dinner Happily carrying a new insight Of a thing I alone produce ... An ever-renewing appetite! #poetrycommunity #writercommunity