Inspired by the Preface in Allen Ginsberg’s Cosmopolitan Greetings

I write poetry because E.E. Cummings wrote, “since feelings is first who pays attention to the syntax of things” and E.E. was a sex god in that trenchcoat of his.

I write poetry because sometimes “words and manners leave me no space for myself.”*

I write poetry because the Hebrew word Shira means song and poem and I write songpoems.

I write poetry so I don’t explode bam boom curl in fetal position so I can channel anger emotion lust spirit.

I write poetry because pinewood forest Led Zeppelin dreamy jazz guitarist long hair lovely my dreams my gold my melodies into subtle stars of deception

I write poetry because I am more than immature wan priestess good plump thick waisted baby naughty sassy little girl.

I write poetry because it’s less expensive than perfume.

I write poetry because it is magic and because I had a dream poetry was like pottery-shaping the clay— getting your hands in it— feels so good— the control the unfurling…

I write poetry because any art is a type of bleeding and I turn my tears into diamonds through poetry.

I write poetry because I am competitive as hell and poetry isn’t competitive and it slows me down mellows me out and turns me into an amorous hippie with braids sprouting out.

I write poetry because I cannot sing.

I write poetry because I love bookstores at night looking at all the lonely books I read as a child knowing the steadfast tin soldier and the ballerina talk as I sleep in my beautiful messy room.

I write poetry because I am a shy wide-eyed little girl who can’t find her way home from the beach.

I write poetry because alcohol makes me sick before it can make me drunk.

I write poetry because I am a maddened impassioned self-absorbed primadonna water spirit.

I write poetry because I hate analyzing.

I write poetry because I love “Bring on the Dancing Horses” taking me back to John Hughes movies high school romance falling in love immortalized.

I write poetry because I was never very athletic.

I write poetry because I fell in love with a golden haired dyslexic sexy man who believed in bicycles.

I write poetry because I am sore all over all the time so everything is sacred.

I write poetry because I am afraid of being forgotten.

I write poetry because I love words language spelling linguists.

I write poetry because poetry is peace poetry is truth and I don’t want to be dried up like an attorney.

I write poetry because I saw a Venetian beggar ask for a word rather than a dollar.

* from Ntozake Shange’s Nappy Edges