The Poet...

Is the title conferred or imposed?  
One person steps onto the stage,
in the spotlight, opens his heart and
pours out his inner most hopes and fears.
He craves approval but is guarded
with the courage to accept
that some in the audience may or may not be
receptive to his message. His offering is pure
and will not change regardless of criticism.
Then, there’s the person who
 steps onto the stage but the lights are down,
 it’s dark and the audience hears his message
but wonders if it’s real as seeing is believing...
Hiding behind anonymity is cowardly.
In the shadows criticism strikes at the heart
of some alter ego and not at the performer himself.
He leaves the stage never knowing if his message
has impacted the souls of the audience
as they know not where to direct praise or criticism.
It’s been said that “life is a stage”.
Can one perform in the dark? Why do we hide?
Is our faith in ourselves and the
 empathy of others that weak? OK, turn on the lights...