I Wish I Knew How

A Poem on crowd-pleasing

As curious as a cat, I research, question, and overthink. Writing my heart out — if it were paper, I’d constantly be out of ink.

Then, you click on my story read the title, the subtitle, and… skim through? speed-read?!

I wish I knew how to make you stay

I’ve put the most interesting bits in the introduction, but it made you leave after two short scrolls and my soul’s abduction.

I wish I knew how to crack the code

I’ve saved, instead, the juicy stuff for the finale, but you couldn’t even reach that far — for you, the rest is all fluff, yet to me, every word mattered.

I wish I knew how to meet your standards

I get it, you’re impossible to please. You’re a quality reader, an art critique, and a serial one clapper — I promise I’m trying harder every day.

I wish I knew what pushed you away

Was it my lousy writing? My poor choice of words? Did I offend you in any way? Or, have I committed all of the above?

I wish I knew how to stop caring

Yes, I want to unchain myself from the stats page, purge my mind from within, and clear you off my thoughts. But I can’t! — I care about you, deeply.

I always have, always am, and always will.

I wish I knew how to make you care too — Because I will never stop, my dear reader.

This piece is in response to this brilliant poetry prompt by Lucy (the eggcademic): Reflect on what aspect of your writing you wish more people cued into, or noticed. What message do you want to shine a spotlight on? What values?

Go check her powerful poem as well!