Happy Birthday, Robert Lax!

Today is the 107th anniversary of Robert Lax’s birth. I’ve received notes already from people who are celebrating it in Belgium and Russia. As a small commemoration, here’s the first poem in the best collection of his work, 33 Poems. It seems a good summation of how Lax viewed life.

the head of the commit-
tee said he couldn't use
it

it shot off, he said, in
too many direc-
tions

throw it onto the junk-
heap, he said,

out there where the wild-
flowers grow

For today, at least, let yourself be thrown out there where the wildflowers grow.

Happy birthday, Bob!