Who Gets to be a Poet?

Asking for a friend

Really though,

Who gets to be a poet?

Those who really, truly know it?

Is a poet a type of preacher,

Is a preacher a kind of teacher?

What can I learn from a poet

Who’s never been a speaker

Who’s never stood and spoke with courage

Meet friends, face foes,

endure others contradictions.

To withstand life-long evaluations.

What does it even mean to be a poet?

If you have nothing to show it.

If no one reads your poems,

and you’re really, really famous

Then who are you even,

Mr. poet?