Why me?

A question pressed into the pillow at midnight-

When the ceiling is a blank page

And the world’s noise is a hush.

Why this body, this skin, this history,

These hands that tremble at the threshold

of every new beginning?

Why me?

When the storm picks names at random,

When blessings fall like rain

on rooftops I have never seen,

When sorrow circles back

to my doorstep,

like a letter addressed in a stranger’s script.

Why not me?

The echo answers, bold as sunrise-

Why not this heart to carry hope’s burden?

Why not these eyes to witness

the small mercies,

the silent revolutions

hidden in ordinary days?

Why not me?

To bear the weight and the wonder,

to stumble and rise,

to hold the hands of those

who have only known falling.

To be the question and the answer,

The wound and the healing.

Why me?

Because the world spins on its axis

of a thousand silent prayers,

and sometimes,

The universe chooses you

to be the voice that breaks the silence.

Why not me?

Because every story needs a witness,

Every miracle a participant,

Every dawn, a dreamer

Who dared to ask?

Why me?

Why not me?

Poem Description

The poem “Why Me, Why Not Me?” explores the shift from questioning personal misfortune (“Why me?”) to embracing the possibility and responsibility of being chosen for both hardship and hope (“Why not me?”). Part 1 (“Why me?”) depicts the feeling of isolation and victimhood when faced with adversity, using imagery of loneliness and unanswered questions. Part 2 (“Why not me?”) marks a shift towards acceptance and agency. It suggests that both suffering and blessings are random and that we are just as capable as anyone else of experiencing hope, resilience, and witnessing miracles. Part 3 (Integration) combines both questions, proposing that being chosen for struggle can also mean being chosen for growth and healing. It encourages accepting life’s randomness and finding meaning in all experiences. Themes include: the contrast between victimhood and agency, the universality of suffering and opportunity, the importance of resilience and hope, and the idea that meaning is created through our interpretation of events. In conclusion, the poem encourages us to move beyond self-pity, recognize our worthiness of both struggles and triumphs, and embrace the unpredictable, shared nature of existence by shifting from “Why me?” to “Why not me?”.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/emmanuel.dumbuya.58?mibextid=ZbWKwL