Tell Me Why You Write

I recently welcomed a new writer and encouraged them to post their work. They responded that their pieces were far too personal to post here. I thought, "hello... that's WHY we write". It's supposed to be "personal".

 

  

 

Cadence, rhyme and meter

Imagery and flow

Tell me what is in your heart

Reveal to me your soul

 

Let me know what makes you weep

Drives you to your knees

Fills you with resounding joy

Refreshes like a breeze

 

What makes you want to grit your teeth

Or hold a loved one near

What can’t you live without.. or with?

What to you is dear?

 

How much will you share with me?

What treasures bared tonight?

Make a difference, touch my heart…

Tell me why you write!

 

 

 

  

Author's Note

I write because I simply must.
Years ago I became discouraged because no one ever read my stuff. I had sent literally dozens of songs to scores of publishers and received only polite refusal letters. Everything I wrote just sat on a shelf. In my frustration I told God that I would never write another thing. Months went by and I slowly grew more miserable. That urge to take up my pen finally won out and I tried to write, for weeks. Over and over I would start something only to wad it up. As much as I wanted and needed to write, I just couldn't. At last I realized why and I humbly found a place in the corner of a little altar I know and asked Him to give it back. I finally understood, there on my knees before my God, that writing is a gift that we should treasure and nurture.
Develop it, practice it, have fun with it. But above all, use it!
Use it to encourage and strengthen and lend hope. Use it to make people laugh and weep and consider and understand. Use it to make a difference!

He later added... Actually I did mean metre, the British version of meter. I thought it lent a little more style. I changed it to meter though to eliminate any confusion.

Reviews

[Clouded in Hopeful Illu..]

Your experience in your author's note sounds like it would also make a good poem. I love this one. I really like this poem and it inspires me to write one kind of like it. If I do, I will give inspiration credit to you. This poem really expresses why people should write. No matter what is in your life, writing is one way to get through it. Thank you for sharing.

"and metre" --- Did you mean meter?

[LadyLove]

Beautifully said. Writing should be a pleasure of the heart. It's a part of us made visible to all who read it. To bare a piece of your soul in whatever it is feeling is such a personal thing to do...and often a brave thing to do as well if it is done to help another. Keep writing nomatter what! It truly can be a lifesaver. Be well.

[lauren emily]

This is a very, very good poem with a good message. I think that I may have several different messages and is just overall-like you said-encouraging.

Great work, great message, keep it up!

Lauren

[Tara Jean Olson]

i love the message! i have thought about writing a poem 'about' poetry, because the language is such a gorgeous one.
Every poem is artful. Be it, by a 2nd grade student, or an eloquent professor, Language is a magnificent.

[Rambling Prose]

I don't know which I admired more: your poem or your note! I'm unlearned when it comes to meter & proper structure of poetry, but I've been reading to learn. I love how your pieces flow off the tongue (yes, I read everything out-loud) & I'm glad that you picked you pen up one again.

nicely penned...

[WritefromtheHeart]

I completely understand this...with my very heart and soul. The first line in your note is what I say all the time when people ask me why I write: "I write because I MUST." It will not let me be!

This poem is a perfect capture of many of the "whys" of why we write!! Bravo!

[Carole]

This is beautiful, AK...it really is. It is the heart and soul of why every single one of us should write. I guess some people are just more private and don't feel like they can share with others, which is sad.

Cadence, rhyme and meter
Imagery and flow
Tell me what is in your heart
Reveal to me your soul

This truly could be published. I love it, and I hope you will consider sending it some where! I am thinking maybe the popular writer's magazine. Right now the name has skipped my mind...I even have a subscription to it.

(Sorry I sent you two thank yous on the same review. I pressed submit and it said, "Unable to Connect" so I presumed it didn't go and wrote it over....)

[Caitbabie008]

Good write. mine may not be that good but i say what i feel and what comes to mind.

[Kitty]

I love this!! I l-o-v-e this.. This poem is inspiring me to write even more personal stuff... excellent questions.

alright im off to write.. and this is going in my favorites by the way :)
Write on,
Melba

[Lori]

Very lovely and a wonderful explanation about the power and beauty of writing. Now....I write because it gives me some release and helps me understand emotions that I'm feeling.