Center, A Poem

by Mike Levin

I write poetry
And am often off-center
There’s some question of cause-and-effect.
I like to think my poetry helps keep me centered.
But when I publish it, I’m way too far left.
It turns out, you must first create a division.
If you want to keep centered, you need a centering divide.
Divide and center? Is that it? Is this a necessary step?
Sigh… yes, Charlie Brown. You must first divide.
Okay, okay, so I have a div. What next?
Find a place to put a style, in head or inline. I chose head.
Give your div some class. The class I chose is poem
Create a style definition for that class that sets margin to auto.
It also must set width to a percentage of containing element.
I am wrong. It should be inline. That way, there’s no dissociating.
Stay centered, my friend.
The world is not perfect.
Put your styles inline if that’s what you need
To get centered right now… when you need it.
Thank you.

—Mike Levin, 2022