by Kim Aasland (November 2020)
Poetry is painful
And yet I write it
Because I don’t know what else to do
It is born of an ache that will not leave
When I place it on paper it leaves a record of that pain
Poetry is beautiful
Yet it comes from agony
I wouldn’t ask for this gift
But now that is is mine I am thankful for it
It’s like an image, an imprint, a timestamp
And it’s the only way to explain things
It’s the only way to share
Poetry is safety
Because it just is
You can’t argue with it
You can only experience it … or not, your choice.
But if you don’t want it you just leave it be without harassment or judgement
And that is what I need: empathy and refuge.
Poetry is me.
Apart from Me 