The Start of Being a Poet

When I grew up I wanted to own a daycare center 

Just like my daycare teacher who was devoted 

To inspiring the next generation of kids 

I didn’t know I’d do it by being a poet 

Poetry was never something I’d considered 

Writing never seemed like it was fun 

It was a forced pursuit 

To win good grades 

And so I formed the conclusion 

That writing was not necessary 

Not a meaningful task 

I separated myself from the words on the page 

And forced myself unattached 

It wasn’t until that one dark day 

When I felt I had nothing left 

That my pen called my name from beyond 

But before I could hear it I wept 

I wept for my innocence 

For the past that was forever changed 

For my future that seemed unknown 

Now mixed and rearranged 

When I saw paper laid out before me 

And my pen sitting at its side 

I realized that even in the chaos 

I had something that resided 

In the very essence of who I was 

Something that yearned to come out 

That screamed and shouted and banged at its walls 

To be seen and heard and announced 

So I listened 

And I realized 

That when I put pen to paper 

Even as my tears soaked the page 

I crafted meaning and created flavor 

The words ebbed and flowed on every line

And even if I didn’t yet know it 

It was on that day 

When my pen touched the page 

That I was born a poet