Reason

Who told you to love me
and all my flaws?
Who asked you to
penetrate the thick skin
that confined my cries and
who informed you to
let me know it was okay to breathe?
I’ve been scuff-marked
and drenched in a 
dystopia of pain
baptized in the burning hell
of mistreatment
then left to crawl and claw
my way out of a bucket
full of crabs that kept
pulling me back to where
I used to be and
back to the wounded bird
I once was

My ragged flesh was 
full of prickly thorns
I bled profusely over
everything around me
but then you found me
wrapped your arms around me
and gave me one of the
greatest things next to life itself
You gave me a reason
An unconditional reason
to just be
Be beautiful
Be fabulous
Be phenomenal
hell, be bold, courageous
and unapologetic
You gave me a reason
to smile at the reflection 
of myself that I was
once afraid to lay my eyes upon



Gave me a reason
to feel no guilt
anytime I began to 
believe in myself
You gave me a reason
not permission
to be the best woman
best poet and
best lover I could be
Reason came accompanied
with hope, joy, and smiles
More laughter than 
one soul could contain
and more love than
one heart could hold
That’s why I chose to
share it with you
So you can experience
what your reasons
have done for me
Your reasons gave me
motivation to do all the things
others told me I could not do
It was your reasons
that kept me from 
convincing myself
someone else out there
is much better than me
With every reason you provided
I repetitively saw your smile
because your happiness
is also a reflection
of my happiness and
that is the most remarkable thing
anyone could ever witness
I don’t know who it was
who told you to love me
and all my flaws
I don’t know who asked you
to penetrate the thick skin
that confined my cries
or informed you to 
let me know it was okay to breathe
but whomever it was
I’m glad they gave you a reason
to do that for me
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Bangalee Avatar
November 25, 2020 at 1:57 AM
For "reason" everything is alive! your poem has great power flowing; enjoyable and expressive; I enjoyed
Woodrow Avatar
September 20, 2020 at 11:26 AM
wow again!! Your compilations of the music, paintings, and your poetic writing and reading is just beautiful! Love how you ended with the starting lines :)
Ashley Avatar
September 20, 2020 at 11:03 AM
LaLa, your recitation of this amazing declaration of self-affirmation and self-empowerment is beautiful. The texture of your soul-baring voice spoken with an enchanting rhythm is silky smooth and mesmerizing. We all need a reason, I'm so glad your poetic presence gave us your reason in this moving multi-sensory presentation. Gorgeous imagery and emotion and such a lovely tribute to your boyfriend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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