Kayla Simon
So I’ve something to share with you;
to be precise, I’ve produced a poem.
Look, I’ve labored over my letters,
diligently drafted various verses;
this printing process is more meticulous
than simply typing text in a formatted font.
I’ve set up symbols and edited expressions,
carefully considered countless combinations
until I finally found this free verse form.
And did I mention? I made it just for you!
But then again, does effort equal excellence?
And just because I’ve left these lines for you
is it right to require that you read them?
It’s true, I’ve put in time and trouble
scouring search engines for synonyms
to attend to this abundant alliteration
but do my delicately refined rhythms
command a reader’s commendation?
If I arrange articles for an audience,
can I even expect anyone’s attention?
Should you analyze my alphabet,
draw conclusions from my consonants
or is it arrogance to assume assonance
has a meaning you might expose?
If I sit here and summon similes for you,
should you study their significance?
Or is it ignorant to imply concrete ideas
can be inferred from abstract imagery
when a metaphor is nothing more
than comparing without cause?
Well either way, this piece is written,
prepared, polished, pronounced a poem.
And even if you think my technique’s trivial
or insist my intent has no importance,
you’ve read these words and reached this point,
so is there a thought there in your mind?
Just take a moment, make a comment,
there must be something you can share.
Are my musings masterful, marvelous,
myopic, mediocre, maybe meaningless?
Don’t be scared, please speak, please say it—
almost any adjective will do.
To an author, any opinion is better
than apathy, than no answer at all.
On second thought,
my poem’s not perfect
so it’s pointless,
I’m not prepared
for your critique.
I’ve wasted words,
there’s more to do,
always another edit
I can make—
I’ll just show you
when it’s done.
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