My Race Against the Calendar

I want to burn off all my bad ideas

In some intellectual kiln,

and I want to write at least seven more novels

Before my muse is killed,

and I want to write a documentary

About the political history of tobacco

Called The All-American Snuff Film,

and I want to teach so well someday

That my students remember me.

There's so much I want to make my brain do.

I've only got two dozen years.