By Soly Assefa

to break bones, break hearts and make agreements.
the ink pursing the bloodstream like blood.
to have your skin replace the paper and not continue ripping up your flesh.
maybe, for seeking enlightenment instead of it being bottled.
facing your battles through your words and face tongues that mark death.
on the road to finding your light and trying to find peace.
rewinding old memories, and trying to wrap your head around tragedies.
or even attempt a philosophical turn and continue to write and write and write like socrates.
all of these, make up what it means to be a writer.
being better at writing your words and never finding the spoken language to repeat them in.
to speak is to die, and so my notepad is full.
writing a “sinful” reflection and my own selfless confession.
my own thoughts get filled up, and using my pen to reassure.
the words seem wrong and just useless time,
but i am a writer
and that is my only crime

Soly is an Ethiopian poet who currently resides in Canada. She enjoys writing and loves reading poetry and any books she can find. She is a published author and owns her own poetry account on Instagram @solyswords.jpg!