Don't Ask Why | David's Poem
August 20, 2025
David Schilg is a 67-year-old farmer, and was diagnosed with MND in June 2023 after 12 months of tests and referrals to different health professionals.
He was lying in bed one night, asking himself, "why would this happen to me?", and formulated some questions and answers in his head. He wrote the poem the following day, thinking of what is particularly important to him.
He has never written poetry before.
Don't Ask Why
by David Schilg
Why Why Why
A toddlers lament
For information and joy
To know what is meant
To the terminal
Why is just a word
It will bring no joy
Something ill cannot afford
Let’s look at why why why
It plays with solutions
It is hard to kill mental pain
But if you look, there is some gain
The letter W stands for when
The letter H stands for how
The letter Y stands for a journey
It has a life road with a branch
Every time you ask why
Another Y branch arises
On the road to finality
So accept life’s prizes
So accept the good life
And it is there
Do it before it’s too late
Make sure you thank a mate
There is one thing that stops
Fatal thoughts come present
And that is love and mateship
That has been sent
Don’t ask why, be happy.
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