Poem written for and submitted to "Why Not" poetry contest, John Lawless, sponsor, December 11, 2025
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sky splits open at dusk, spilling its ink across the horizon~ Why not walk barefoot into the spillage? The door is agape, the dog dreams of a wider yard~ Why not let the wind rearrange the furniture? The train station at midnight is a mouth full of swallowed departures~ Why not whisper your name to the tracks? The moon is just a rock with better lighting~ Why not throw it at the dark? The coffee grows cold while you debate the weight of its bitterness~ Why not drink it anyway? The sky is a crumpled receipt; the trees are shaking loose their coins~ Why not pocket the afternoon? The door is ajar, the train is leaving, your name is half-formed on someone’s lips~ Why not answer? The world is a question posed in a language you’ll never decipher~ Why not answer in tongues of your own? Why does the sky refuse to explain its blue? Why does the ant carry twice its weight without complaint? Why does the river bend but never asks permission? Why does a child draw a door on the wall and waits? Why does a dog dig up bones it didn’t bury? Why not touch the stove just to feel the burn? Why not let the unanswered questions linger? The world is a question you refuse to ask, a dare you pretend not to hear. Why not? Why not? Why not?
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