Arnon Grunberg

Perhaps

Active

At the opening of a gallery I overheard a man saying: “I know all poets in Manhattan, I don’t know you, you are not a poet.”

The other man replied: “But I’m a poet."

The first one: “Are you active? Are you published?”

The poet: “I try to be active.”

The first man, doubtful: “Are you published?"

The poet mentioned a small press I had never heard of.

The first man: “I know that press very well. Perhaps you are a poet. Perhaps you are not a poet.”