AT THE POETRY CONVENTION

Is this the state that things have come to?
At the poetry convention, I saw talks
where people talked about choosing titles
to get the reader's attention,
because
"that's what you're supposed to do."
I saw talks about
"if nobody reads your poem,
then what's the point of writing it?"
"If nobody reads your poem,
then it's just a waste of time."
And my heart sinks.
I hate political poets.
How can it be
that a poem means nothing
if nobody reads it?
Unless that's true
for the feelings as well.

Copyright Š2006 Ashi Shadow 4/4/06
The convention was actually a chemistry convention, but the theme was the same.
It's depressing to me if they're writing for reasons other than what I think they should be writing for.
What is art if not art for its own sake?

Was previously:

Is this the state that things have come to?
At the poetry convention, I saw talks
where people talked about choosing titles
to get the reader's attention,
because "that's what you're supposed to do."
I saw talks about
"if nobody reads your poem,
then what's the point of writing it?"
"If nobody reads your poem,
then it's just a waste of time."
And my heart sinks.
I hate political poets.
How can it be
that a poem means nothing
if nobody reads it,
unless that's true
for the feelings as well.