I Paint Because…

by Jihmye Collins

I paint because it’s in my blood,
God gave the gift to me,
I paint because it feels good―
And I am compelled,
I must create because creativity
is who I am,
As a people we are creative
Expression extraordinaire,
Always have been―historically―
As far back as anyone knows,
That is why our creativity is so copied
& duplicated.
Picasso, Matisse, & Modigliani,
To name a few, can attest to this fact.
Ask the ghost of Elvis if he’ll ever
Pay his dues to Little Richard,
Chuck Berry, et al.