“Poetry Reading” by Julia Cannell

they hand out raffle tickets at the door

 

the prize the self satisfaction of

 

a poet who pretends

 

their words make a difference

 

who reads above the audience

 

with emotions high and heavy, hands

 

always moving in the air

 

who condemns materialism and judging and stereotypes

 

and laughs

 

when the emcee jokes about rape