What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Poet
I still would have written that first word, first line, first stanza
Image by 育银 戚 from Pixabay
Collins has been called "The most popular poet in America" by the New York Times. When he moved from the University of Pittsburgh Press to Random House, the advance he received shocked the poetry world—a six-figure sum for a three-book deal, virtually unheard of in poetry. Wikipedia
Of course, I knew it’d take a miracle to earn a living writing poetry, unless I got a foot in the door at Hallmark or Random House. Of course, I knew poetry is not prose julienned on a page like zucchini on a platter. And, of course, of course, of course, I knew more minds are closed to poetry than open. What I didn’t know is poetry is reefer madness. One toke, one indrawn attempt, and I’d be lost, reborn a wild child compelled, propelled – even now, when I am old – to dive naked off ever-higher cliffs into ever more turbulent waters. Seeking pearls to polish then string into necklaces aglimmer for you. My Murano-beaded heart, broken before I lift my arms, tuck my chin, lean, plunge. Confidence in shards, hope blown into translucent rainbow-colored birds refusing to fly. Even as addicted I remain, determined to attain the impossible – perfection.
Thank you, team at Scribe -
& - for the perfect home for this pondering about living life as a poet.Thank you, dearest readers. Love
Also feel free to check out my new prose Substack, A Septuagenarian Sings.
Poetry is a spiritual practice. Jeni you are a priestess of the invisible 🙏❤️
Yes, Jenine. If you have to do it - you just have to do it.
Poetry is many things, but for me it is a distillation of existence, extracting the essence of life.
Best Wishes from Australia - Dave :)
(PS I dropped in here because you just came up as "following" me due to a recommendation by my good friend Jed Moffitt).