a co-volunteer at a literary event this summer asked if i'm a writer.

no. well.. i write a bit of poetry, but no, not a writer.

she probed:

so...when do you move from "someone who writes poetry" to "poet"?

when indeed?

even while i think nothing of my work, my life is nothing without it; if i'm not writing, i'm not a person; i'm not worthwhile.

but to say "poet" is, for me, impossible.