ENVOY
Go little book
out of this house
and into the world
Carriage made of paper
rolling towards town
bearing a single passenger
beyond the reach of this jittery pen
and far from the desk
and the nosy gooseneck lamp
It is time to decamp
put on a jacket and venture outside
time to be regarded by other eyes
bound to be held in foreign hands
So of you go, infants of the brain
with a wave and some bits of fatherly advice:
Stay out as late as you like
don’t bother to call or write,
and talk to as many strangers as you can.
Billy Collins
From his book
AIMLESS LOVE