works by william pham, 2005-present

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YOU

The letter "u" of the Roman alphabet
is in nine cases out of ten an unassuming letter
less brazen than the letter "q"
less bold than the letter "y"
which juts out into the empty spaces between letters
and so is invited to more parties than "u"
but if one looks closely at the "u"
there is a shoulder bared between the ink
and if one should smudge the ink of "u"
then there might be freckles on that shoulder
which are attractive blemishes unlike
the crook of a "c", so misleading in the curve,
or an "x" shouting loudly at the door
or the "i" that stands awkwardly in the corner
holding the same drink for two-and-a-half hours
watching all the other letters comingling
in lascivious words without shame
making Spanish and French and Italian
all their filthy romance languages
and in any case I am more fond of "u"
than any other letter of the Roman alphabet

copyright (c) 2007 by william pham