What the Audience Wants (NO!)

a poem, a plea, a comfort, a please

No It’s not what the audience wants

No Don’t do that to yourself

Don’t sell yourself so short Don’t give up on the actual deep seated value of

Being who you are And giving this to whoever is reading, watching, listening

No Don’t cater don’t pander don’t dumb down don’t go low

Don’t give low don’t encourage low Why why why why why

Would this be in your mind, anyone’s mind The audience is not always right

The audience is transient The audience is yours

Waiting for you You can shift the conversation

You can elevate it You can delight and comfort

You do not have to scrounge or beg even implore You do not have to do anything say anything to cheapen your spirit

You do not have to use garbage to attract a laugh A view

A click A read

You do not have to take yourself out Because that is the entire purpose of art

Putting yourself in And seeing who shows up and

Is ready for all of the good All of the gift

All of the smart, endearing, kind, thoughtful, caring, clean, blue skies, peaceful

Talent that is you It is yours to give not yours to twist and contort

For the benefit of others who will leave who will leave who will always leave

What you say with your mouth what you do with your art

what you put out there Sticks on you, sticks to you, stays with you

— the audience leaves, changes, will leave, will change, so no, so why, so stop, — choose you

So keep it pure, keep it lifted, keep it on high, keep it deep Where you are, where you belong,

where it belongs, where others want to belong but few ever take them — so take them — move the audience

That is enough That is the show

That is the main event Nothing else matters

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, so far.