Why I Write Poetry

Every man wants to leave a legacy behind him

So when the pages of the past are turned, it’s easier to find him

After he completes his life the best words are used to describe him

And when he finally rests he earns the respect that was denied him

From the moment of birth, I yearned to see what I’m worth

Competed for first, but a lot balloons burst and a few feeling got hurt

But my uncle taught me when you get pushed just plant your feet in the dirt

No time for self-pity just continue the search

Meanwhile, a brother’s life had a few bad seasons

Wondering why my family got to struggle no damn reason

I remember one winter we damn near freezing

Spent the night fighting over blankets, so had no time for dreaming

Bullies kept rushing me, depression kept crushing me

Girls used act like they would catch a disease if they even considered touching

Family kept loving, home boys stayed trusting me

But I hid demons away so they wouldn’t start judging me

I still yearned for that one thing that made feel special

I soon found my outlet in a notepad and a pencil

I idolized rappers not only because they got cash or fashion

But because when they spoke, people felt their passion

So I wrote rhyme after rhyme, story after story

Topics ranging from achieving glory to girls that ignored me

Then my dude Spence wanted to take a look in my rhyme book

Embarrassed I wanted to take away the glimpse that his eyes took

My spine shook, as he gave his opinion on the lines that I wrote

He said the best praise I could get, that I was seriously dope

I didn’t believe it, my rhymes dope; I thought I could share them

It was then that I learned that there are people out there that want to hear them

So my legacy will be left in stanzas and the kids I hope to raise

Why I wrote poetry is that my existence will never fade

When I die write it on my tombstone so everyone will know it

That Anthony Pereira was a Good Man, Good Father, and Poet.