The one sincere/
crocodile has/
gone dry eyed/
for years. Why/
bother crying/
crocodile tears.

This poem, “Crocodile Tears,” is quintessential Kay Ryan: short and simple at first look, profound and powerful just a few thoughts later. Today, the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series draws to a close with a visit from Ryan, the 2008-2010 U. S. Poet Laureate.
Ryan, who has published seven volumes of poetry, typically writes very short pieces — sometimes with just one or two words per line — that are deceptively uncomplicated. Something might seem funny and then turn out to be sad, or vice versa; she’ll describe the movement of an animal and seem to answer some profound question about life itself. Ryan will read and answer questions about the power of her petite poems at 7:30 p.m. Alley Theatre, 615 Texas. For information, call 713‑521-2026 or visit www.inprinthouston.org. $5.

Mon., April 11, 2011

This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.