An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

by Simon Armitage

Compiling this landmark anthology of poetry in English

about dogs and musical instruments is like swimming through bricks.

To date, I have only, "On the Death of Mrs. McTuesday's Pug,

Killed by a Falling Piano," a somewhat obvious choice.

True, an Aeolian harp whispers alluringly

in the background of the anonymous sonnet, "The Huntsman's

      Hound,"

but beyond that — silence.

I should resist this degrading donkey-work in favor of my own

      writing,

wherein contentment surely lies.

But A. Smith stares smugly from the reverse of the twenty pound

      note,

and when my bank manager guffaws,

small particles of saliva stream like a meteor shower

through the infinity of dark space

between his world and mine.