Why Poetry

I told all these high school students to write a poem for their final.

And they asked why.

Well, here’s why:

• Because you’ve already taken your math final, that’s why. 
• Because I said so. 
• Because I couldn’t think of anything better. 
• Because I just got off the phone with your heart and I think she wants out. 
• Because the world is spinning at 800 miles per hour and nobody's dizzy. 
• Because video games aren’t real and the universe is still expanding and we’ve all heard enough stories about vampires. 
• Because I got a part-time job as a coroner and I want to see if you’re still alive. 
• Because our older sisters are still alive and they have no idea how we feel about them. 
• Because high school isn’t real. I just got back from the real world and trust me. It’s a lot less like High School Musical and a lot more like The Walking Dead. There are too many people out there who are dead in here. 
• Because I don’t know if you can feel it or smell it, but - we are all on fire. 
• Because you’re rich, that’s why. And I used to work at the happiness store and they don’t take credit cards. And I’ve been in your backyard. I know it’s big, but someday you’ll run out of room and have nowhere to bury all your problems. 
• Because every one of your ribs has a purpose, but neither of us knows what it is. 
• Because of the look in my daughter’s eyes when she’s embarrassed. Because of the look in her eyes when I’ve hurt her feelings. Because of the void that existed in my heart before she was born, and how I didn’t even know it was there. 
• Because it’s sad to see a robot try to recognize himself in a mirror. 
• Because we’re all alive, but just barely. 
• Because one day we’ll all be adults - adults who ask each other about their families, discuss the best ways to replace water heaters, and start conversations in public restrooms. 
• Because the world is running out of hot water. 
• Because hurt and pain never quit, they just go on vacation. 
• Because LOOK AT US. Connecting with each other instead of regurgitating facts that we memorized last night and will forget tomorrow. 
• Because this life is an open gym and we’re talking about practice. 
• Because if a tree falls in the woods, but nobody hears it, does it make a sound? And what if you feel something, but fail to notice it? 
• Because I hate you. 
• No, because I love you. 
• Because my mom went to see a fortune teller when I was 13. And he told her that I would grow up to be a paramedic. That one day I would pull a young boy from water – and that I would spend the rest of my life trying to save people.