Having spent the better part of my life writing poetry in near total isolation, I am now receiving feedback from those who are actually reading my work. It is exhilarating and daunting ... and inspiring.
The Clockwork Alchemy Convention was my first foray into thrusting my poems into the public eye. It was a good fit. And then came A.P.E. which, though not an ideal venue for poetry per se, did serve to greatly broaden the outreach of my work.
Echoes' readers never fail to astound me. They are articulate, insightful, and very supportive. I recently met a woman who picked up my book, read from it, and then said, "Don't stop writing!"
When Barbara approached my table at Clockwork Alchemy, and began to share her luscious interpretation of Train Of thought, I realized that she was flawlessly spot on. I was, quite frankly, floored.
During A.P.E, I met Adam, a fellow blogger, who spoke with me about poetry and ghosts and whatnot, and who later wrote a awesome review of Echoes. Again, floored.
Also at A.P.E. a young man named Charles handed me a copy of his illustrated poem that he had crafted on the spot. As usual, my vocabulary suddenly lagged well behind the level of my appreciation.
This writer-reader relationship is so much more than I had asked for, and is light years beyond the usual, "I like it." responses of the past. Now, I have that long sought far wall to bounce off of: accountability.
Until recently, few had ever truly scrutinized my poetry, or tried to fathom it's deeper murmurs, aside from my courageous husband and daughter, that is. By the way, it isn't always easy living with a poet.
Well, this poet is grateful, and a little apprehensive, because it suddenly matters all the more. With a book in the works and more poems begging to be written, I am newly mindful that I am no longer largely invisible. I get to play poetry toss ... with "others!"
So, are there any other writers out there ... newly published, accomplished, considering going to print ... who would like to weigh in on the concept of "the audience?" The floor is now yours.