Perceive the Poet

This poem is based on the thoughts of Lord Berkley, who speculated on the nature of being, namely that to be is to be perceived, or, more commonly stated, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it make a sound? He said that God is the knower of all, so we all have being because we are perceived in his mind. It's interesting stuff - to what extent is our existence based upon the perception of others?

A poem is written alone,

and read alone,

never to be given voice –

does the poet exist?

Art doesn’t exist

for itself,

because art is made by man,

and man makes for man,

not for none.

Could I exist

were you not to read

and know, or guess

of one hidden

behind word and phrase?

No, I would not exist

were you not to read –

some other might be,

but not me, not me,

some other, no poet –

needless to speculate

on his life or state,

if you have read

to know of his

life, his life

need not be,

for I am me,

written and read,

existing and known.