Another

By samhennig

Thu, 24 Jul 2025
  • 167 reads
2 comments
 

I am not writing this to write well,

or to be right.

I am writing it because I do not know what else to do.

If we call ourselves, artists or writers or creatives,

are these things at their most honest level not about trying to understand, to have empathy, to reflect and interrogate in ways that might illuminate or at least ask questions?
And if that is so, should we not at least try, even if we ultimately fail, to stand up for or talk about the things which make us feel. Feel love and compassion and anger and frustration? What is art for? It is not just to decorate.

 

So here I stand and shout and scream and whisper and wave my arms. Not because I want to be noticed but because I want to bring notice, because it is something I can do, when doing nothing feels disgusting. When silence feels like a black hole which from entering we cannot then recover.

 

What is happening in this world to people who have done nothing to deserve it is not ok.

 

It may sound so obvious, and yet it seems to have been forgotten amongst a sea of arguments and politicisation. But please remember that we are all simply humans. Each of us brought to this earth through an extraordinary series of miracles. None of us have a choice about where that happens or who our parents are or what colour our skin is or what the weather is like outside when we look out the window. How can we sit and pretend that there is me or us or we and then there is another?

 

What is it we all ultimately want? Seriously, what the actual fuck are we doing?

Certificate 15
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Comments

Submitted by Caldwell on

I often think conversely, that by putting down the words I do, says I feel important enough to be heard. That my voice is somehow relevant. And yet if I had never existed, the world and human history would still go on regardless. Stewart Andrews would still make his way to Sainsbury's and buy his eggs and bread. Phylis would be remembered in her funeral service. And the words I didn't get to write will not stop the millions of other voices all striving to be heard and forgotten in time and noise and dust. Best not to overthink it and just do what feels right at a time that's convenient. 

Yes, you could say, who am I to speak? But you could also say, who am I not to?

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Good thoughts! I do agree with you, and do feel the same. You describe these feelings and thoughts well!