Paul M. Strohm’s most recent poem to appear here was “All Our Pretty Words” (July 2018). 

Alice Fulton Always Makes Me Feel Bad
By Paul M. Strohm

I am listening to this reading by the poet Alice Fulton
  and in doing so I learnt a lot about me.
I am not a very sensitive person.
There’s nothing deep inside me trying
  to get out, stay hidden or explain itself.
I suppose all I think about is me
  and the sounds I make, excuse me please.
I am devoid of animal rights thoughts
  or dirty planet fears.
I am pretty much a guy
   with a nice exterior who talks a lot.
I can’t imagine anyone without a happiness
  other than on the surface.
I live on the surface of my life
  like any other parasitic creature.
I am glad I listened to Alice Fulton
read her poems but I think I am the guy
sitting there in the room completely
enamored by his own sweat.