Promised Myself

Because I promised myself

that everyday I would think out loud

put it in verse, in cadence

tell some truth I couldn't 

bear to tell, make my hands

move across the keys

everyday, even if I thought

the results were shit, I'd do

it beyond trolling Facebook

or chatting with friends

or lovers or people I 

wish loved me

because I promised myself

that I would  beat back the doubt

and silence the critic in my own head

that I would say, "you're lying"

every time I heard from 

somewhere in my belly

that no one cared what I had

to say

I care. These words can't die inside

They could, but that would

be a grave unworthy of them

and if no one but me knows

what these words mean

or why they're important

I am One person enough

because I promised myself

© Valerie Bridgeman

January 22, 2013