Damned If You, Damned If You Don't Poem by Doug Lane

The problem with
setting out
to write a poem

is that if you
ever manage
to write one

you'll feel compelled
to prove
you can do it again

which would be
like setting out
to climb Everest,

and if you manage to summit
feeling like you must
repeat the feat

climbing past frozen stiffs and feces,
never knowing
if you'll summit or return

over and over
for the rest
of your life

when what you really want to do
is write
one good poem

declare victory,
and get the hell off
the mountain

before you get hit
by a surprise avalanche
or get stuck

writing bad poems
over and over
for the rest of your life

just to prove, to yourself
and the world
that you've still got it,

when proving you've got it
is exactly why
you got into the poetry racket

in the first place
and exactly why
you don't want

to stay there
trying to do it
again.

The challenge
can turn your knees
to water.

And also make you feel
alive.
Or kill you.

And prevent you
from doing something else,
something better

or more rewarding,
with your
life.

I know what you're thinking.
"What could be more rewarding
than poetry? "