My Voice (after Raphael Campo)

To test myself in writing fearless songs

I wrote a fearless song about the need

For writers to write fearlessly, and why

We must have courage to be truly free

From self-imposing censorship, nor wish

For approbation from our peers or dons,

But find our own voice. Let me write without

A fear, not numb to pain nor overwhelmed

By it. And let my sight be insight and

My poems speak of love and tenderness,

And let me not fall silent when the test

Takes me to places I am stranger to.

Let me be familiar with the truly

Inexpressible. Let me fight to find

The words to know the inescapable.

Let me have the words and skill to say all.

But more, let me have the ears to listen;

For what is song without the music of

Each person’s heart? The song is ending now.

So let it end, and let us make our choice

To say to all the world: this is my voice.