Mark Bohrer

A Crowd of Joy at the Door Mark Bohrer

From the Introduction
In the past, it always seemed strange to me when someone said "I'm a poet." My reaction was that, well really, no one is a poet. I suppose this is an unusual thought coming from someone who writes poetry. But it comes from the feeling that remains with me today - that I don't write poems as much as they write me. My job is to listen and hold the pen. But if the poem writes the poet, then that changes who is or isn't a poet, doesn't it? As human beings, we have language built into our fiber. All of us can write poems if we listen to that voice - whether it speaks from within or without - it's there for all of us. I believe that poetry can do things for us that other forms of writing and, for that matter, the other arts can't do. The ability to be intimate and personal, and yet also shared and universal is something other forms can't quite match. There is something about the portability of a poem that I find serves me well in life. In that spirit, I offer this invitation.
Come inside. A crowd of joy is waiting at the door.