From a different pre-MFA-worship era: Poem called SHALL WE MARCH FORTH?

Years ago, when SoCal poets spoke to each other on listserves rather than via Facebook, a poet suggested that the local community pull together to advance the status and (assuming) the visibility of poetry.  It didn't happen, but here's a poem I wrote inspired by that post:

CAN WE MARCH FORTH?

(OR WILL WE MERELY DREAM

BIG DREAMS ON A LISTSERVE?)

(inspired by the author responding to

a post where a poet was concerned

that reaching out to a broad audience

meant “watering down” the “art”

of poetry?)

This reminds me of when I used to

go to Screen Actors Guild meetings

and hear complaints that

letting too many background actors

(extras) join the union

would be ruinous

to the art of Acting.

Poets shouldn’t have to worry so much

about “watering down” their work

for the masses when a lot of them

make a strong effort to avoid

intersecting with the masses

under any circumstances.

I’d like to envision a future where poets

could take the stage at Pershing Square

to entertain the lunch-break office

workers, street people and

random passers-by.

Or what remains of the Fairfax

Farmer’s Market,

the Federal Building in Westwood,

etc. etc.

Somewhere besides the usual

coffeehouses and bookstores-

or the usual alternative ways of intersecting

with the public

(“on the bus” readings).

Can we March Forth?

Or will we march into

an early grave-

complaining that

the “stupid masses”

will never appreciate

our brilliance

no matter what we did

or didn’t want to do

or tried to do

or merely thought about doing?