Poetry

Poetry
Is the thing
That awakens you
In the midst of a long night
Beckoning you to more hours
Of frenzied writing
Attempting to capture it all

Poetry is a wild animal
You attempt to tame it
Perhaps make it your prey
It is devilish and sly
escapes your almost grasp
And winks at you, provoking another game

Poetry is a war between your heart and mind
For control of your every action
While your soul tries desperately in vain
To keep the peace

It is poetry that violently burns inside your stomach
Physical convulsions causing you to regurgitate
An endless string of painful memories

It is poetry when little girls test the threshold
Of their tolerance for pain with sharpened blades
Or sear their skin with lit cigarette butts
Then mask their pain with long sleeved shirts

No, see I know it was poetry
That found you lying naked as a child
Invading every orifice until you
Were filled with poetry

Poetry lights the day and awakens you
From sleep deprived nights; it is the hot
Streaming water that beats you awake
So that you may start your day

Poetry is an emergency, an urgent call of duty
For your which only you can report
It commands you to write the lines
And tell the story

Poetry doesn't ask your permission
It doesn't ask, "Is this a good time?"
Poetry is rude and foul, it doesn't make
time for you and could care less if you're busy

It is poetry looking back at you
When you face the mirror
It is poetry that graces your skin, fills your heart
And forces you to accept yourself

Poetry does not take rejection lightly
It will haunt your dreams, disrupt your thoughts
It is poetry knocking on your door
Calling on your phone
Waiting for you to answer