I have never won a poetry competition. Never gotten second, third, or an honorable mention for that matter.
I have never been told I should become a poet, but that’s not why I write.

I never felt like my poetry was good enough to sell copies.
Never thought my poetry could be framed on someone’s shelf
I never called my poems art, but that’s not what I write.

I do not write because someone asked me to
Nor would I write if someone had
I do not write for friends or lovers
I do not write for mom or dad

I write because I love it.
Because it helps me learn to breathe
I write because I have to
To bring back the broken piece of me