There Are No Rejected Poets

A poem

For Ashwini Dodani, Giant

When it comes to poetry, rejection can mean hey, not right now, thanks for trying -

it can mean oh wow this, this is what you call poetry? ( Insert cruel laughter) It can mean hmmm I like this kind of poetry not your kind of poetry, or, it can mean I do not know what poetry is so I will just pass on this, sorry.

When it comes to poets rejection can mean: the dramatic stumble to the couch or ground

feigning a Shakespearean death, laid out with ice cream and cookies and coffee and cake - our poet’s hearts are not made to hear such things as “no, not you, next!”

When it comes to rejected poets there really is no such thing — we are all vital our words are reaching, pulling, connecting

in ways, we might not see, in ways that don’t always come with a book deal, a prize, a pat on the back, a thumbs up, a clap - poetry exists in the small spaces of silence

poetry repeats and repeats, tiny phrases in whispers, like rain falling on water, rippling out and out and out always saying “yes, this is it, yes, thank you.”

Poetry is pure meditation on life’s moments. Poetry cannot be rejected, it sneaks in, it sinks in. Poets cannot be rejected, we sneak in, we poet all over the place.

Jenny Justice is a mom, Sociology instructor, and writer. You can follow her on Medium and at Jenny Justice, Writer. She has been recognized as a Top Writer on Medium in Poetry, Parenting, Reading, Education, Books, Racism, Feminism and Climate Change, Social Media, Humor, and Writing, on and off, so far. You can follow her poetry at Justice Poetic.