Selene Steese

Selene Steese

Why I Do This

I do not use the word
"love" lightly. If
I say it, then
I mean it.

I do this because
I love it.

I certainly don't do this
for the money.

If I took all the cash
I've earned from my words,
converted it into crisp, new ten-dollar bills
and laid them end to end,
I might have enough
to reach from here to the door.

I definitely don't do this
for the adulation.

I remember every criticism
I've ever received,
no matter how vague.

I've lost count of
the raised eyebrows,
the incredulous stares,
the disdainful upturnings
of mouths,
accompanied by the unspoken
yet still heard
"Oh, you’re a writer-
that explains a lot."

I do this because
I am this;

Headstrong, quirky,
far-too-sensitive,
much-too-serious,
appallingly inappropriate,
eccentric as a bedbug.

Everything I see burns
into my skin, sears through
my flesh, burrows deep
into the hot, dark chambers
of my bones.

If I don't drain out the words
that collect like red-tinged rainwater
behind my eyes, populate
with the drops
my ever-thirsty pen, I will

spring leaks and all of me
will seep away, leaving
an empty sack flapping
in the indifferent breeze.

I do this because
this is all there is.

© Copyright Selene Steese

Selene Steese's bio: "Words are my first love. Writing is my breath and my blood. Poetry is the form of writing that comes most naturally to me, and I have written several hundred poems in my 38-year career. Nearly every moment of my spare time is devoted in some way to writing: attending poetry readings, entering contests, self-publishing chapbooks, attending retreats and workshops, and submitting poems for publication. I hope you love reading and hearing my words as much I loved writing them!
My poems have appeared in issues of the Sacred Grounds Anthology, Baker Street, The Crazy Child Scribbler, The Carquinez Review, The Crockett Signal, and the Spring 2003 issue of Spire Magazine. One of my poems will appear in the Spring 2004 issue of Spire Magazine."

I first heard Selene back at the Coffee Mill and have been impressed ever since. Her poetry was interesting and emotional to begin with, covered subjects that I could personally relate to, and has only gotten better with more intricate wordplay joining the already descriptive abundance in her poems. In addition to her poetry, Selene has been writing songs more and more, beautiful blues that she sings acappella with a stunning voice that easily slides up and down a wide range. I hope she makes a CD sometime as well as publishing more chapbooks. DGK

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