This whimsical scene at Seattle’s Ballard Market the other day made me smile. This pair of poetical hustlers are bittersweet reminders of the plight of poets everywhere.
They brought to mind the funny (but not-too-funny) little poem by Hayden Carruth, written when he was studying and writing about the Japanese haiku master, Basho, who lived and wrote in the late 1600s.
Basho, you made
a living writing haiku?
Wow! Way to go, man.
This pair at the market did not appear to be doing much business, but they were earnest and eager, and I wish them the best.
Poetic Champions 