damned near everyone in poetry

when damned near everyone
has a camera in their pocket
attached to their phone
is everyone a filmmaker?
is no one a filmmaker?
what is a filmmaker?
what are you?
what am I?

when damned near everyone
has a voice
in their throat
in their lungs
in their head
is everyone a singer?
am I?
if we’re nearly all capable
of singing
what the hell is even a song?

when damned near everyone
has a keyboard
is everyone a writer?
am I a writer?
who the hell am I if I’m not?
who the hell am I if I am?

are you still a filmmaker
when your phone is in the shop?
are you still a singer
when you’ve got a cold
when you’ve got too old?
am I still a writer
when my laptop is turned off?

I think there is a difference
but I could just be fooling myself
in that you’re only what you are
if you’ve spent your whole life
trying that thing
thinking about that thing
maybe that’s what makes you what you are
makes me what I am
no matter if anyone is watching
or reading or listening
or if you make a dime off of it
maybe

but I’m going to close my laptop now
and I guess we’ll see
what I turn out to be
then
or will I be like
damned near everyone