one million poets
are scribbling stanzas into notebooks
at this very second
one million authors
are punching keys
completing chapters
computer screens burning their eyes
one million teachers
wish they could solve ADD
stomp on cell phones
and make their students
jump up onto desks
screaming “oh captain, my captain!”
But
299 million
are putting their deepest thoughts
into 140 characters or less
But
299 million
are laughing
at talking baby
television commercials
and googling celebrity gossip
But
299 million
would require
the threat of a firing squad
to visit a library
So why does the one million bother?
The answer shouldn't surprise you.