Professional Poet…
  to cringe at the term

A lonely consensus,
  so much to learn

Days writing couplets,
  nights dreamed in verse

Feelings when gifted,
  mine to rehearse

Professional Poet…
  to run but not hide

Resisting the accolades,
   cousin of lies

The Muse calls my marker,
  chits payout in thought

Each line spoken freely
  —no longer store bought

(Villanova Pennsylvania: November, 2016)