Why One Writes

by Maria Fischer

Image credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“Why one writes is a question I can answer easily, having so often asked it of myself. I believe one writes because one has to create a world in which one can live. I could not live in any of the worlds offered to me – the world of my parents, the world of war, the world of politics. I had to create a world of my own, like a climate, a country, an atmosphere in which I could breathe, reign, and recreate myself when destroyed by living. That, I believe, is the reason for every work of art.” – Anais Nin

“Why one writes”

Is a pretty pretentious question

And we all know Anais

Was full of pretentious answers

But I find myself

Agreeing this time:

I also had to create a world

In which I could live.

Not the world of

The middle school bullies

Who grew up to be

Insurance agents at my

Full time job.

Not the world of

Exes and antecedents.

Not the world of

My parents and the

Melancholy blue of their

TV set

Endlessly on.

Not the world of

War I was never brave enough

To protest against.

Not the world of

Politics

That is poison now,

The corpse of habeas corpus

Rotting,

The Big Brother

Watching

Our socials,

The propaganda

Propaganda(ing),

And me,

Teaching

Students who write,

“I think school is pretty close to useless. Like if I need to know something about history we got google now. I’m glad I’m not brainwashed like them from the Democrats and all their lies. I will also make sure that never happens to me.”

I had to create a world of my own,

A disposition outside

Of depression,

An atmosphere

Of survival;

A country that is more

Kind;

An envelope

Of breathable air

Where people care

For one another;

A space to recreate

Myself

With words and skirts

And adverts and sluggards

And the march deathwards

Away from every

Work of art.

***

Maria Fischer

Maria Fischer is a mom of five, stepmom of two, and grandmother of two. She has a husband, as well, to help her wade through that madness. She teaches English at Joliet Catholic Academy and Adult ESL at both Joliet Junior College and Prairie State College. Are you sensing a theme here? She can be reached at mfischer@jjc.edu to discuss both being stressed and being satisfied.