1. Forward to New Numbers by Christopher Logue

2. I If this book doesn’t change you

3. give it no house space

4. If having read it, you are the same person you were before picking it up

5. then throw it away

6. Not enough for me that my poems shine in your eye

7. Not enough for me that they look from your walls

8. or lurk from your shelves

9. I want my poems to be in your mind

10. so you can say them when you are in love

11. so you can say them when the plane takes off

12. and death comes near

13. I want my poems to come between the raised stick and the cowering back

14. I want my poems to become a weapon in your trembling hands

15. a sword whose blade both makes and mirrors

16. But most of all

17. I want my poems

18. sung

19. unthinkingly between your lips

20. like air

21. If this book doesn’t change you give it no house space; if having read it you are the same person you were before picking it up, then throw it away. Not enough for me that my poems shine in your eye; not enough for me that they look from your walls or lurk on your shelves; I want my poems to be in your mind so you can say them when you are in love so you can say them when the plane takes off and death comes near; I want my poems to come between the raised stick and the cowering back, I want my poems to become a weapon in your trembling hands, a sword whose blade both makes and mirrors change; but most of all I want my poems sung unthinkingly between your lips like air. New Numbers