This poet has perhaps a thousand pages of works she seldom publishes, deeming them too petty, personal or negative to be constructive offerings.

It never ceases to amaze her, however, that it is these, when they do see the light of a public screen, which seem to elicit the most heartfelt returns of appreciation from her readers.

“I’ve been going through this myself,” those comments say, “and you’ve helped me to see it more clearly now. Thank you.”

*****

Recorded Reading (1:56): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g3uc6ap6q2b8xy8a0uxzh/A-Writer-s-Responsibility.mp3?rlkey=y1ohz080z6pnh35yf4jxqmtta&dl=0

*****

A Writer’s Responsibility

Our poets live each moment twice
The first for present be
The second, not long after,
Is for all posterity

Each petty slight distraction
Every so unworthy doubt
Before their future readers
Is painstakingly laid out

It is a shame, this poet thinks
That we are so required,
For by their foibles exposee
E’en best of friends are uninspired

Fledgling manifestors turn
A supercil’ious gaze
On one who would record a life
Both in and out of phase,

Deprived of understanding
That it is with happiness
Enlightenment, encouragement
We hope our readers so to bless

By laws of simple logic
They’re reduced to the assumption that
In spite of some small talent
We really don’t know where it’s at

And instead of bringing light to
Someone else’s future pain
All we’ve really done is
Just use rhyming to complain

Thus compoundly impacting
An unavoidability:
Actually pushing
Every happiness away from me,

Who have, as well, deplorably,
In lighter moments been
Known to give assertions
On more sober mornings seen

As somehow yet more ludicrous
Than even their first giggles won,
Intended only that to be:
A little bit of fun,

But hit one of the million
Raw red nerves our culture in
And threatened yet another
Stupid lawsuit to begin

*****

Until removal of the stalker/targeter/vandal/arsonist following her allows her to approach any landlord ~ even for a private parking space ~ and to begin once again to create professional connections and to rebuild her life, this poet presently lives homeless and at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level ~ still working seven days a week to contribute to her society, however.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to send a personal check to the poet’s ABLE account. It takes about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts.