Wow, I've never earned more than $3 in a month. I do think you've hit the nail on the head about followers not reading, and it seem stupid to not have claps tied to earnings. Nonetheless, I don't think there's much money in poetry and where elst would you post that pays? I also don't like having to pay, to submit. I've thought about submitting to Sequestrum and may send a humor piece there, but $6.35 to submit seems extra high (although I think the money goes to the few writers who are at the top of the votes). I just don't think there's much money today in literature or poetry, aside from the few that have "made it". There's always Substack or Patreon but it seems so mercenary. I'm in a good place financially, having worked 41 years, so it's easy for me to say...