I purposely did not and will not commit this to memory

Because I hate poets that have established their own definitions of what

“Real Poetry” is.

Paper does not take away from the truths I speak.

And talking like this or like that won’t make them any truer.

Truth.

Poetry has kept me from crumbling.

Truth.

Poetry has swept up the crumbs of me when I couldn’t quite speak it.

Truth.

Poetry is everything to me.

My E equals MC

Mic conquered and tears shed

All because of the words I read.

I purposely did not and will not commit this to memory

Because whether I have paper or not

I just need you to hear me.