It's hard to write a poem in moderation.
Of moderation, with moderation.
Poets are supposed to be passionate, fighters with a cause,
Rough, rude, sharp, 'honest' -
But what if, in all honesty, I see no necessity for that?
What if my poems are...quieter.
Softer. Not angry or disillusioned and
I
don't
hate the world.
Do I then not qualify to be in the ranks
of the mouthpieces of the street? The Freedom Fighters, the
Justice League. The Sylvia Plaths, Angela Carters,
Virginia Woolfs?
Have I let down 'my side' by not hating men -
Is liking submitting? Is submission wrong?
Have I been brainwashed by the patriarchy of my
outdated, misogynist, backward, savage, people-killing,
children-raping, impotent, baseless, effectiveless
Faith?
Or have the ranks of the Freedom Fighters, the
Justice League, the angry, disillusioned haters
closed,
against those of us who know, and want to share, peace.
