No Self Portraits (2019)

“[...] All my Muse’s poetry has been harmless:

American and diplomatic: a learned helplessness

Is what psychologists call it: my docile, desired state.

I’ve been  largely well-behaved and  gracious.

I’ve learned the doctors learned of learned helpelessness 

By shocking dogs. Eventually, we things give up. [...]”

    -Solmaz Sharif  “Desired Appreciation”