Influencer — Thx John Roedel

And thx Katharine Weinmann, who posted and reflected on this John Roedel piece a few days ago.

I’ve found myself using lines from this a couple of times ever since. Like, “I don’t want to
blaze a path for you ~ I want to get lost with you ~” It suggests something about the “co” part of “co-learning.” It also says something about the never before encountered. And about the pre-supposition that there is wisdom in us that wishes to be found together.

Enjoy the read. I did. “Flow with me.” Until “your ear is shaped like your heart.”

Influencer
John Roedel

I don’t want to to sound out of touch,
but I really am exhausted by the word “influencer”

that word suggests trying to
have control over somebody else

and there is already
too much of that going
in the world already

I don’t like the term
“clout” either

that word is too fickle for me

whenever I desire power it feels like I’m trying to hold a melting ice cube in my hand

I don’t want to
sway anyone

I want to serve them

I don’t want to
blaze a path for you

~ I want to get lost with you ~

to crave authority
would require me
to surrender
my amateur status

and I quite love being
a newbie here with you here

I don’t want to guide you down
this River

I want to enjoy the ride with you
until we reach the great waterfall

don’t follow me
flow with me

and as we go

let’s not influence
each other to be like us

instead

let’s listen to
each other

until our ears become
shaped like our hearts

~ John Roedel from his upcoming poetry collection “wonderache” ~