At the Writers' Conference

The edge of uneasiness
among writers at the lecture
adds to distances
hard spaces.

Something beyond reticence
--not much smiling
not much warmth
in all the seriousness
about being a writer.

--way off the shore
from anything human
everything outside
desire for success—
how sad.

...even sadder when commercialism causes writers to say things they may not want to say, or to say things in a different way than they would have them said.

Very astute observation, Peter. You are always tuned in to your environment.

Joe

Thanks, Joe.

re: taking oneself too seriously...
It has always struck me that an excess seriousness about some activities...like playing a game, chess, baseball, or something like the arts , poetry, writing, can be ironically counter-productive.

amo et avanti,

Peter

I agree with your point of view Pete, the arts I believe should be inspirational without being perspirational.

Les

Les,
you must know how much work goes into the most 'natural' work of art,
even and especially when the work that went into it
is not visible to the audience

Perhaps my poor choice of words belies my meaning, I don't mean that an artist shouldn't work at their craft, but that they shouldn't sweat about people's opinions of their work.

Les

gotcha