Where Do The Poets End And The Would- Be Poets Begin? Poem by Shalom Freedman

Where do the poets end and the would- be- poets begin?
It is with one or two for a generation or even a nation?
Or is it the elite few? Or perhaps the in- circle academic privileged?
Is it only with the anthologized? And those of what are taken to be the ‘best magazines? ’
Or is it at the other end
With anyone who dares to write a line
And hide it for themselves?

Is it with the completely unknown and never to be known
Who finds the words for a depth of feeling that must be said?
Or somewhere in the middle along the way
Where amateur stops and professional pretends to begin?

No one knows for certain
And does it matter anyway?

Write your would – be- poetry
Whoever you are
You are your own poet
Star, or no star.