On an Artist Leveraging a Value-Added Life for Maximum ROI

It was as if the email
was written in a foreign language.

One I recognized—
alter ego? past life?

“agenda”
“objectives”
“niche”
“networking”

But that was before.

Before,
when I might actually
be in an elevator
giving a speech.

I tried not to giggle
at the corporate pretense.
“Why Grandmother, what big words you have!”

Was I ever really there?
Speaking in tongues that way?

There is so much more to say
out here in the fresh air
than there ever was back there

before I got leveraged.

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