Richard Wilbur, "Flying"

Richard Wilbur, I am absolutely certain, never contemplated traders when writing his poem “Flying,” published in a recent issue of The New Yorker. But in four four-line ABBA stanzas (yes, a poem with a rhyme pattern), he captures the essence of thousands and thousands of pages of trading books, some very sophisticated. The poem may not resonate with you as it did with me, but I’ve accepted it as my poetic mantra. And I want to share it with you.