Some Unsolicited Advice.

As a kid, I wrote a ton of poetry.  In High School, I took writing courses and one of the things we had to do was read our own stuff in front of the class at the end of the year.

I LOVED doing this since I could pick what to read.  I don't like reading long form narratives in public as I read fast and tend to stumble over the words as my mouth tries to keep up with my eyes.  Poetry is different, since I can find the rhythm and it flows much more pleasantly.

One piece I read was a short poem ironically telling the reader not to laugh or make a show enjoying life.  I don't have the poem anymore, but I recall the last line being:

"Don't play in the parks or swim in the pools, don't laugh at all because laughter is for fools."

I was 14 or 15 and pretty proud of it.  I knew it was good when everyone was totally silent after I finished.  Then a girl said very loudly:

"You didn't write that."

Well, I did.  Unfortunately her comment really flustered me and I probably didn't defend myself too effectively.

Years later, in my late teens at a friend's wedding, I was asked to give a speech and I wrote a Shakespearean sonnet.

In the washroom later that evening, a stranger said to me:

"You didn't write that."

Well, I did.  In fact I incorporated the bride and groom's names into the poem.  That ain't easy in iambic pentameter!

Sometime not long after that, I just stopped writing poetry.  I honestly think in part, at least, because of those people questioning my authorship.  Defending that is exhausting and I didn't enjoy it.

No one (except my first girlfriend, who was showered in romantic poetry - I was 17 and horny, what can I say?) really ever encouraged me to write poetry, but I was good at it and probably could have done something with it if I'd stuck to it.

So that advice?  

If someone in your life has an artistic soul, even if what they produce isn't your thing, encourage them.  Humanity needs more poets, more artists, more dreamers, not less.  Sure, the chances of making a real living at these things is slim, but not pursuing poetry into my adulthood is one of my regrets.

Don't let someone you love give up a passion.  While I don't blame anyone for not being encouraging, think how grateful I'd be if I was a working poet and had someone in my past who had been my poetry cheerleader.  

Be that person for someone in your life.  You never know what the rewards could be, but you're a helluva lot more likely to enjoy them one day than if you help churn out another middle manager.