To Niche or Not to Niche

A bona fide writer’s dilemma.

To niche, or not to niche, that is the question: Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of cursed impulsivity, Or to take arms against a sea of random And by opposing, forcing focus. Rambling No more: and by ramble to say we end The heart-ache of such varied interests That flesh is heir to: ’tis a fine pleasure Devoutly to be wish’d. To write with width Even perchance of dreams — ay, there’s the rub For in those words of will what dreams may come, When we have written of our mortal foils, Should give us pause — here to reflect On the calamity of unpublish’d works. For who would bear the whips and scorns of niches, Reining in our spirits — proud writer’s muse, The pangs of setting limits on our voice The insolence of rules, and the limits Laid that hardly merits our attention When we ourselves might a vast body write Of bare bodkins? What fool would disagree? May they grunt and sweat a weary life, With the dread of critic’s hell after death, The niche-less country, from whose blaming shame No writer returns unscathed, puzzling the mind And makes us rather bear the niche we have Than try on others that we know not of. Thus freedom makes not Pulitzers of all And thus the niche’s hue of confinement Shines far brighter than we think it ought And opportunities of great riches and/or fame In this regard are not what they promise, And give the niche a bad name.

Marilyn Flower writes political humor and satire to delight socially and spiritually conscious folks. She’s a regular columnist for the prison newsletter, Freedom Anywhere, where she writes about faith and prayer. Five of her short plays have been produced in San Francisco. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times.