A poem can have an impact, but you can't expect an audience to understand all the nuances.

A poem can have an impact, but you can't expect an audience to understand all the nuances.

Reading a poem aloud to an audience is gestural as much as precise.

A poet's cultural baggage and erudition can interfere with a poem.

A poet's cultural baggage and erudition can interfere with a poem.

I just didn't expect it to have the impact it did, and that was where I was naive. At the same time I'm happy ultimately for the experience because I'm stronger.