An Audience of One

By Paul Roberts

I found myself wondering again this week “Who am I writing for?” The answer came with a swiftness and certainty that surprised me. Although I have a longish list of people that I hope enjoy my work on occasion, my most important audience at this point in my life is me.

If that sounds selfish, even narcissistic, please feel free to tell me about it. I’ll listen. But when I sit down to write, I am the audience looking over my shoulder, hovering like a teacher watching a student perform on a test. There is a freedom in that thought that I’m not sure I ever felt as a student. Those school performances were all about pleasing the teacher in the room-understandable at the time, even warranted-but lacking the spontaneity and freedom that I enjoy now.

"Hey, Paulie. It’s National Poetry Month. Waddaya gonna do 'bout it?" I'm going to write.  And I’m not going to worry about who might be looking over my shoulder right now.  

                                  ******************************************************************

When I’m gone 

maybe they’ll find some Work 

half done 

and wonder If it needs to be buried with me 

or

Revived and resuscitated, viewed 

by those that knew me when

Age is all about perspective

Memory can be true and false,

Accurate as the light shining down from the star 

In the night sky

That died so long ago 

Its work half done

                                  *******************************************************

Decades push the nearly non-existent memories deeper, 

turning elementary life changing moments- 

Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Brown-

into

Insignificant flashes remembered 

by a 5, 7, 9 year old boy from

The back seat of a 4, 6, 8, year old

Maroon Rambler headed north or south,

Rarely east or west.

Names, a few faces, slide into place, but nothing 

That seems important enough to send the kid on the trip

Of a lifetime, retiring with 30 years under his belt,

Following Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Brown

Away from the sun rise and into the maroon sunset.

***********************************************************

Who are you creating for? Who is your audience for your creative projects?

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