William Marrs poem, Why I Write Poetry, published in the Chicago Chinese News, 2026.8.7
非馬英文詩作〈Why I Write Poetry〉刊登于《芝加哥时报》2026.8.7

WHY I WRITE POETRY

I dont know why I write poetry
all I know is that writing poetry makes me rich
enjoying -- not possessing
the ever-expanding universe
without fear of inflation

in the sky --
white clouds
singing larks
whispering wind
the tender moon and twinkling stars

on the ground --
mountains hills plains gullies
lush green red brown yellow
oceans streams lakes ponds
splashing gurgling burbling
the blooming flowers
the vacillating leaves
childrens innocent laughter
cats dogs chickens ducks birds
jumping chasing croaking singing
all are parts of my lifes fortune

of course, there too are
ferocious dark clouds
harrying eagles
howling storms
withering flowers
roaring guns
and piercing screams
the shadows that lend dimension
to poetry and life

In fact, I dont write poetry
poetry writes me