Mariner is pleased that in addition to his three alter egos, he has a wife who is the world’s best poet but doesn’t make any money because she refuses to publish her excellent works. Nevertheless, she is willing to share with mariner’s audience:

A Poem for Dr. Poulter

Dr. Poulter taught botany my freshman year of college

I went to class three days a week,

I paid attention, took notes

Passed tests

And now I can remember zylem and phloem

and little else.

I am not a scientist as I walk through these woods

I can not name the trees or wildflowers

But I do not think he failed in his teaching.

I remember that he talked about the trees

He noticed on his walk across campus,

I remember his delight in plants, in learning,

And in teaching.

I think he would be pleased that I remember him

When I walk in the woods

Drinking in the beauty of the morning,

Surrounded by green leaves

Yearning toward the sun

Full of zylem and phloem

Whatever that is.

MKM  8-19-2025