Flowers For Socrates

by Nona Blyth Cloud

“Abstract Minimalist” — Sometimes the labels that get attached to a poet’s work obscure rather than illuminate. The poet Robert Lax (1915 – 2000) pared down his work and his life to the essentials.

Robert Lax dealt in the Eternal Questions, looking for answers in nature, and the extraordinary in ordinary life. He would hate being called a Mystic, yet few people in the 20th century sought the Infinite with more dedication.

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This is the first poem I read by Robert Lax:

The Alley Violinist

if you were an alley violinist
and they threw you money
from three windows

and the first note contained
a nickel and said:
when you play, we dance and
sing, signed
a very poor family

and the second one contained
a dime and said:
I like your playing very much,
signed
a sick old lady

and the last one contained
a dollar and said:
beat it,

would you:
stand there and play?

beat it?

walk away playing your fiddle?

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