Some Voices
One poet told me to try to find my voice.
Another told me there was no such thing
as a voice and only fools would look
for one. Yet another told me we risk
appearing foolish to be profound. Another
told me never to use the word profound
in a poem, that in doing so one might risk
appearing shallow. Another is telling me
right now that what has been written
so far is completely lacking in imagery,
that I could at least have provided a lightning
bug or a swimming pool. This very same
voice is politely telling me that
perhaps I shouldn’t write any more.