When the world surprises you, don’t stop writing

By Brian Rohr, 2024

When the world surprises you, don’t stop writing,

Even if the systems you know break.

War may shatter, plans may be dashed,

Dreams may come true,

Whatever you do, do not stop writing.

Do not stop writing when they say, I love you, but…

Do not stop writing when they say, I love you, and…

Do not stop when they say, your performance could have been…

Or was worthy of…

Keep going when you get the call you’ve longed for,

Or dreaded to receive.

Keep on, keep on,

Don’t stop when your unpaid bill arrives with a letter.

Don’t stop when you are on the ground, bloodied, broken,

unused or used up.

When a storm or fire comes, and you are tired,

And going on means going on and on.

Don’t stop writing.

When your teacher dies,

Or your friend dies,

And more people you know keep dying.

Don’t stop writing.

When life is in your womb

And you don’t know to celebrate or cry,

write. Write.

When the kids are scared, and you are scared

And the walls around you crumble,

Tend as you need to tend,

but don’t stop writing.

Keep on.

When all the books have been read

all the years, lived

all the tears, shed

when all the words have been spoken

all the grime cleaned,

the dust settled,

even then,

even then,

don’t stop writing.

When the light dims,

the echo fades,

the last thought breathes,

and you remember a life,

don’t stop, until you truly know,

that it is the end.

Then, let go,

and fade into the sweet night's wind.

Note to the reader: Please replace "writing" with whatever you are passionate about. You may even replace the word “writing” with “living.”