'Room to Connect' by Ravyn LaRue

Alright, so-
I think I might get it
But if I am wrong, I'll just have to keep searching
I'll keep on searching, since that's what I must do
But I suppose in a way, I get it
Since catharsis takes work-
One must empathize before they can feel
So the artist needs to trick the audience into connecting with the characters
So that once the character or art has compelled and lulled the audience into a sense of security
The art will grab on to the audience and say,
"Thank you for lending me your heart, now here's mine to keep!"
I get that, especially since so many of the tragedies I love indulging in seem like such happy schmaltz from the outside
I think that kind of relates, since if I knew the art I love would've broken my heart, even for the better-
I may not have been comfortable giving myself to it as I sat in the theatre, or sat reading or sat listening
But instead as audience I was not me- I was up there, in there, around there with the characters,
And in this, I suppose I am the character that must be calm enough to grab the reader's hand before I can start my manic descent
These tragedies I adore seem so simple
And I think I may be too focussed on trying to seem complex
The book that makes me cry the most is aimed at children
And to be aimed at children, it must guide the onlooker through the darkness, not just shove them into a pit expecting them to be content there
I think the room to connect, in a way, is the hand reaching out-
The stillness before I decide to dissect myself in front of the masses
The eye contact that says,
"Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story."
It is that vulnerability and dependence upon the audience, I think that makes those stories mean something.
It is why I write, and so that's the step I must bring about into what I do-
I need to hold out my hand and say those words-
Thank you, dear reader, for listening.