It is six years gone by
Since I determined to do
Something with my writing
Last night Kate said
If you want your poetry
To be so personal
If you want to make it
So difficult to understand
Why do you continue
To put it out there
My swift retort
Was that Hilary Mantel
Said not to underestimate
The ability of your readers
The true response
Of course would
Have caused much self-hurt
Led to more hours than years
Of pitiful, introspective
Selfish investigation