Reasons Why We Write

There exist such unspeakable horrors

Persistently mind-gnawing horrors

Often it can overshadow some of the world’s serenities

Like the art of poetry

Every passing generation evolves ever so slightly

Augmenting their views on what truly is artistic

Some prefer the standard textbook definitions

Some others prefer to study various artistic amenities

Neither path is right or wrong

I ask what motivates you.

Better yet ask yourself what gives you motivation

Internal inspiration or external stimuli

I am curious as to know what gets you to creative flashpoint

I can only speak for myself

So what motivates my poetic creations?

Everyone and everything

Sometimes my creative energies will rest in an inert status

Potential energy humbly awaiting a weapon's grade ignition

Ignition comes randomly

Ignition or inspiration, I have no control as to when it shall strike me

A large amount of inspiration for me is derived from rage

Confusion, haunting pessimism, and regularly hated in a manner unrequited

Inspires me to string ideas together not thought of before

This is just one form

Random events that I witness

Begin to trigger thoughts, which trigger others

A cerebral chain reaction

One, which focuses my poetic vision

And focus i do

While the fuel of inspiration is abundant

Fingers to keyboard i direct that energy

Pondering on how i can best translate chaotic thought

I formulate words to my personal artistic satisfaction

Before the fuel runs dry

Sometimes inspirations runs a drought

A creative "Dust Bowl" with complementary tumbleweeds

Other times i am inundated with creative fluids

Like the nutrient rich rivers in the Fertile Crescent

The words coerce their way out

A child giving a dime to the homeless inspires

Impatient drivers inspire

A woman in mmmmph revealing clothing definitely inspires

I’ve no clue when or where it will come. Little point in guessin'

It comes when it comes

I’ve a menagerie of thoughts that i wade through

Sometimes i want my thoughts to rhyme

Other times i do not or am just too lazy

And in writing this i would not decide

Only a portion rhymes

Is that something done before?

I honestly have no clue. To me this is new

When i create i try just speak rather than follow a formula

I see the formats and such more as a guideline or suggestion

Not etched in marble

I believe poetry should be written from the heart.

It should either make you feel or think or both

This was constructed to make you think

And perhaps in turn cause an emotion

If you are open for it

My opinion is that all poets should push the extent of their limits

For those who choose to limit their thoughts or beliefs or ideas

Will sadly find that they are themselves limited

What motivates your poetry?

Douglas S. Williams