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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I Write Because I Must

I write because I must. There is no choice involved. To write, to think to create, these things are as important as air, food, and water, without them I would die. Publishing a poem or story would be icing on the cake. The joy is in the process, in turning thought, emotion, or a small event into a story or poem. The joy is in condensing powerful, complex emotions into the shortest, simplest terms and words possible. The joy is in the words; words which have the power to hurt and to heal, to build and to destroy, and in putting those words on a page in a way no one else can because they are not me. I write because the words in my head would make me crazy if I didn’t. I often think in poetry. I write because I must.
I teach, or desire to teach, to spark in another’s mind the same desire to read, write, and learn. I teach because the moment when a confused student sees clearly the concepts they are challenged to learn, is the most fulfilling satisfying moment in life outside of sex. Often I hear that English Language Arts is not as important as teaching Math or Science, think then on this, how would scientists and mathematicians read their materials had not some underestimated, underappreciated English teacher at some point taught them to read? I teach because we teach best what we most need to learn. I teach because it is what I was meant to do.
I write because I must. I teach because I can. I use words to paint the texture of my life, the world the way I see it, life as it unfolds for me, for us. Words will be my life, for all of my life, be it writing alone in my room, posting on a blog, or teaching in a classroom

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