I might be digging myself a hole here, but here goes.

On November 1st this year I gave my talk about the material in the book I self-published in 2014. After I scheduled the talk at the library, NAMI kindly stepped in and sponsored it. My daughter flew up from Atlanta to support me, and counted 25 in attendance. I gave them egg nog. Almost half those attending were friends, come to support me.

My book is actually quite good, and failed to be puchased widely because I was unable to push it. This morning I realized that my synonym for push is manipulate, and that’s something my father was good at.

Then it came to me that this is what capitalism is all about, manipulation.  I don’t believe I manipulate, and am touchy when I suspect others might be trying to manipulate me.  Oh I could dig down deeper and discover times when I may have unconsciously manipulated, but if so I apologize.  These reflections led to the “poem” I published on my blog yesterday, and some of the feedback.  I embarrassed myself by the stanza:

Poems mirror the mind, you know.                                                                                                            What are the parts we’re willing to show?

Blood from a refugee’s eyeball

pooling on the floor at the mall?

I might have done better if I’d taken more time.  But, still waking up this morning, I began to wonder who we write poems for.  If we post them publicly on a blog, surely we write for others?  After five years (omg, has it been five?) my readership is miniscule, which suggests that I don’t write for my readers.  (Sorry).

Tho it sounds stuffy, I write from my own muse, who does a good job of comforting me.  I guess I write for the echo.  I recall my tidbit from the past:  Here’s the thing: I’ve been talking through this loudspeaker I found in my crib 80 years ago and just now notice it’s not plugged in.

I realize a line might be drawn between therapy poetry groups and straight ones, but where does a blog fit in?  And now I wonder what’s the difference between trying to make my point versus manipulating you, but at least I’m upfront about it.