there are many reasons
to take the thoughtsimageswords
that dance around your head
and behind your eyes
and do the two-step
with them
or pry them out
from a lockjawed mind
with mental floss
or savage yourself
until they bleed from
your hands
staining the pages
with memory and hurt

yes
many reasons

my reasons changed
like i have
the first lyrical steps
were awkward shuffling
down alleys of mystery
then finding
my good foot
i traipsed along
the highways
of my ways
throwing words at the sky
in punk rock delirium
planting food for thought
in empty lots
and when the clouds fell
down on me
i ran to my pain
and nursed it on
the blood of my silence
painting sanguine placards
just to say
"I AM HERE"

soon
the play
became work
and i took leave
of ab(sense)
the words
brought memories
the memories
brought pain
and the pain
brought a gun
that smiled in my hands
until i decided
to take aim at the past
and put two
between its eyes

now
the words come
and the words go
as they please
there are days
when war inspires me
and there are days
when the barks of trees
tell a story
sometimes
my daughter will laugh a lyric
or my lover
will whisper a blossom
in my heart
that i'll wear on my lapel

now
it seems
the best reason
is no reason
at all