New poem: POEM FOR NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

was it that long ago
when the poet rulers
spun a successful illusion
based on the Mark Twain quote
>
that goes something like:
"The really great make you believe
one day you too can be great"
if only it could be true
>
it certainly wasn't true then
but at least the poetry tent
was large enough
where open mike regulars
>
didn't feel like complete losers
if they didn't conform
to certain hosts' templates
of talent and status
>
now I see people
come and go
to and from
formerly egalitarian coffeehouses
talking to truly true friends
and the air-kiss folks
some poets just know
have their backs
when they submit poems,
small press manuscripts
and beg (without
looking too needy)
for the privilege of
getting a slot
at a group reading
>
happy national poetry month
to you temperate gladiators out there
may a few of your dreams come true
but hopefully not
at the expense of others