WHY

It seems we need a reason why
We should get out of bed.
Without a reason to get up
In essence we are dead.

But what are we supposed to do?
Is anything OK?
For instance now, can I kill you
If you don't go my way?
If you say, "No"; then I'll ask, "Why?'
What reason can you give
That would tell me why I should care
Whether or not you live.

Don't tell me that it's just because.
A reason there must be,
To cover our entire life;
A future we must see
That's unified for all of us
Not just the lucky few.
This means it must allow for me
To see that I am you.
Don't look for a philosophy
We've tried them all before.
Religions only separate
And tally up the score.

You're having trouble, let me help.
I'll state the only why.
It's rooted in biology.
I think it's worth a try.
We do it somewhat anyway
It's just so little now
Because trying to fill the void
We've made our sacred cow.
Reach out to our capacities,
To others and to God.
Though it's the same for all of us
Uniqueness we'll applaud.

But even if we all "reach out..."
The why we still can pose.
The answer is don't pick it now;
"Reach out..." and smell the rose.

Comments

[Carolyn Plitz]

I love it. It seems to me that we have been given a "will to live" and a "need to work". However, not all of us "value life", ours or the other guy's. Also the "need to work" isn't necessarily present to the same degree in everyone. That goes without saying. Aren't we constantly being reminded to "stop and smell the roses". As this life is not a dress rehearsal, it is important to enjoy each day as much as possible and not to take life, friends, and all of those roses for granted. We never know when there will be a killer frost that ends the life of the rose.

Just great, wonderful humour!

[kimmie]

this is a really beautiful poem. people can really relate to this and im a writer too and wish i can write as good as this someday

I appreciate you giving me the time required to comment. Thank you. Doug.E.Barr

[alicia]

That was great!! Now every time someone asks why, I think of this poem. Thank You

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Perhaps you will also tell them about this poem. Thank you. Doug.E.Barr

[Sherry Warner]

I Had a best friend for years .. we grew apart, but i was the dedicated one, I Loved her so much but i kinda feel i was taken for granted, but i over looked it ...why? because i loved her so.... she made me laugh, and it lifted my spirits...
I Have so much more i could say, but i wont , why??? because i wouldnt want her to read this and it hurt her feelings,even though over the years i was hurt so much, but she didnt see it.... i sacerficed my feelings of pain, because i loved my best friend uncondionally.... im not a good speller, so i hope you get the idea of what im saying....
i guess what im saying, is...... if you have a best friend, things should go both ways..... Love one another equally enough to say what your feeling...... if she is your true friend, she should want you arround, not just when there is noone else arround to do things with. but you should be her first pick of spending the day with or going out shopping with ETC.

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When I began reading your comment I immediately lost the fact it was left in my poem "why". I thought it was a comment on friends. In it I suggest we could all be each others friends. If there is a "should" that would be it. However, our efforts to fill the void interfere with being friends. If we try to fill the void with a friend we will be a destructive drag on the friendship; and as a result of the drag the subject of our attempted friendship will drift away to find freedom. I wonder about your friendship. Doug.E.Barr

[pamelaoriginalgifts]

i don't like it ! let me see if you should live ?? yuk

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I have no problem understanding "i don't like it" and "yuk". The rest of the words you use have meaning by themselves but the way you have assembled them makes no sense to me. Doug.E.Barr

[Abigail]

Abigail, there are a number of sites that invite visitors to publish their poems but mine is not one of them. So even though it was lovely, I deleted your poem. Doug.E.Barr

[Me]

This poem really made me think. I love it and I uderstand it fully. It is a great poem. I thank you for writing it!

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Thank you for your comment. Doug.E.Barr

[Amber]

dam that was so good this poem really made me think... i love it and i uderstand it i love for wighting it ^_^

LOVE AMBER GILBERT

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Thank you. Doug.E.Barr

[brittany sampson]

i love this poem it give a reason to live i think u did a great job

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Thank you too. Doug.E.Barr

[mark colston high school student.]

this is a good poem i think it was already said in previous comments, but life alot of times is takin for granted. I know that this is a common saying, but you never know what you got until its gone. this is a good poem and reminder to back that up.

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Thanks for writing Mark. Every note helps. Doug.E.Barr

[Crystal F]

I really like this one. You did wonderful job Doug. Keep up this type of good work.

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This is one of 16 comments Crystal left. If you are interested in my general response to all of them you can read it here. Doug.E.Barr

[tiffiney]

This was really goood, and well done

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I appreciate you telling me. Doug.E.Barr

[romy]

i like it really speaks about the way you apparently feel !

[Hannah]

wow how strong that really is. How words can bring out the best in some one; about how they feel.