“Poetry is better when your write about yourself”
They say this to me
Repeatedly
But what they don't understand is no one cares about me
people read poetry for healing
So how is me telling people my pain helping?

I think poetry is better
When I talk about beauty
When I describe the sun taking over the sky
And the waves licking the shore

I think poetry is more creative
When I convey someone else's life
When I try to write from their perspective
And see what they are dealing with

Poetry is better
When the words mean something other
Than just depressing life stories
And healing for yourself

Because when you write for others
Your words mean something
Your ideas come to life in someone's mind
And can free them from themselves

Poetry is more than just self therapy
It's using words to heal things
To help people
And to show them they aren't alone

Poetry isn't better when I write about myself
My readers need help with what they go through
Poetry is better when you write about things that matter
Not just things that matter to you