Skip to main content
By Marvin Bell

Such a book must contain—
it always does!—a disclaimer.
I make no such. For here
I have collected all the best—
the lily from the field among them,
forget-me-nots and mint weed,
a rose for whoever expected it,
and a buttercup for the children
to make their noses yellow.


Here is clover for the lucky
to roll in, and milkweed to clatter,
a daisy for one judgment,
and a violet for when he loves you
or if he loves you not and why not.
Those who sniff and say no,
These are the wrong ones (and
there always are such people!)—
let them go elsewhere, and quickly!


For you and I, who have made it this far,
are made happy by occasions
requiring orchids, or queenly arrangements
and even a bird-of-paradise,
but happier still by the flowers of
circumstance, cattails of our youth,
field grass and bulrush. I have included
the devil’s paintbrush
but only as a peacock among barn fowl.


Marvin Bell, “An Introduction to My Anthology” from Nightworks: Poems 1962-2000. Copyright © 2000 by Marvin Bell. Reprinted with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P. O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.coppercanyonpress.org

Source: Nightworks: Poems 1962-2000 (Copper Canyon Press, 2000)

  • Arts & Sciences
  • Nature

Poet Bio

Marvin Bell
Marvin Bell was born in New York City. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alfred University, his master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and then entered the University of Iowa for a Master of Fine Arts degree. Bell taught several writers, including Rita Dove, John Irving, and Joy Harjo. His work has received numerous honors. Named Iowa’s first Poet Laureate in 2000, he was on the faculty at the University of Iowa until 2005. In addition to publishing over 20 collections of poetry, Bell also toured with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band of writers that included, among others, Stephen King and Amy Tan. Bell died at the age of 83 on December 14, 2020.  See More By This Poet

More By This Poet

More Poems about Arts & Sciences

Browse poems about Arts & Sciences

More Poems about Nature

Browse poems about Nature Get a random poem