WHY?

Here is my response to the request of Why? Why do I write.

WHY?

Why do I write?

This you ask me.

These things you should ask:

Why did my father hate,

Spew spiteful slander over dinner,

So often erupt in rage,

Hammer, pound me 

With words like nails,

Make me small,

Frightened always.

Ask the size of his belt,

The feel of his fingers 

At my throat.

Ask why Mother

So often confided 

I shamed her,

Embarrassed her. 

Ask why,

When women came 

For cards, drink and laughter,

I hid beneath my bed,

Stopped up my ears

Against their cackles

Down the hall.

Why do I write?

Ask why the Sufis found me,

Why in traveled towns

Bookstores bade me enter,

Where the sweet scent of baraka

Would lead to a single perfect text

Upon a shelf.

Ask the purpose of 

My existence.

Sufis suggest 

We were given Life

Such that through our eyes

The Creator may view 

The beauty of all she created.

Then ask why I write.

Ask 

What is family?

My entire life 

I have searched for such

To call my own.

You, you are family.

Am I not like you,

You like me,

Awake in the night 

Fitting words 

Here, there and there,

Fitting pieces of life to a page,

Hoping to fit  beauty 

To one another’s hearts.

Now ask why I write.

I write for myself.

I write for you.

I write for God.

Author's Note

This is my first draft; the words were already out there, I simply had to open a door in my heart and let them enter. I may fiddle with language in days to come.

Reviews

[Buddhistboy73]

Why do I write.....thanks for sharing this deeply emotional and honest poem on here....

This is a question that we as creative writers ask ourselves all the time.....for me it's kinda like therapy....
I liked the final 3 lines which seem hopeful and free.....

BB73

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thanks for reading. I agree with you that writing is often a form of therapy. I certainly have written enough of my inner demons.

[destiny renteria]

Thats so deep i love it so amzing

[Michael Sun Bear]

destiny, I just got out of the hospital; eager to go to the Cafe your kind words were one of the first things to greet me, thank you.

[destiny renteria]

Of course lovely I hope you are okay?

[Michael Sun Bear]

More or less ok. Dealing with depression, anxiety, and dependency. Thank you for caring.

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work. You nailed it.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thanks Thomas. Sometimes the work just seems to write itself. That was the case here.

[Betty Hermelee]

You put your emotions to work...and it all comes out in the pen and paper....you life story. some bad times, some good, but all of your words equal honesty... and that always is a great write....
Thank you for sharing!
Warmly, B

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you for reading and commenting Betty. It’s always good to hear from you.

[Betty Hermelee]

You are very welcome!
Warmly, B

[Desert Knave]

This is quite the write. I tried to answer this for someone a long time ago and could only come up with "I cannot imagine life without me writing.". ~Jim

[Michael Sun Bear]

Your sentence succinctly speaks for all of us!

[LisaCarol]

Excellent writing. I was touched by the raw vulnerability described in this work. Thank you for sharing your writing.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you for reading and for the kind words.

[Lara]

Words are weired in their ways, sun bear. A clumsy cage seeking to hold and carry the "moreness" of life that otherwise is an ocean that already has us swallowed.

Your piece "why" is as authentic as it gets. I'm glad you wrote it out and shared it. It fit with me - most of all,
"Hoping to fit beauty
To one another’s hearts.
Now ask why I write.

I write for you.
I write for myself.
I write for God."

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hello Lara, I think I must have missed your review when you first wrote it. I appreciate both your reading and your comments. I’m glad it “fit” with you. MSB