To The Minor Poets In A Heartless Hour, Speaking Love To Power Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

[to Valerie Macon, who lives for all poetry.and who rose to the occasion]


in almost any poem

someone else's heart is on the line.

to think this way



is to be subject to the rejoinder

too much schmaltz.



I think, really? Is it better to ignore

as has been done before

of course, always in the name



of Higher Criticism a poet, a peon's inalienable soul?

of holding to golden literary standards



the person writing anything at all.



in their starry scrawl



as if in the dock, or in jail.

to make them feel, they failed.

is this necessary?



we are all small.

we all try to be known.

some for power.



to occupy a throne.



I am not speaking of those.

even small insects in their summer fields compose



and float up to God

their miniature hymns.

are unacknowledged poets

not as worthy as them?



mary angela douglas 8 july 2019