Child Poet

The raw delight and wonder of an eager child-poet lay scattered across the floor. A baby's coo squeals from the aging pages babbling forth childish nonsense while tired cliches wind lazily through trite rhymes lacking lyrical luster. Still, each precious verse endears me to the memory of a precocious youth when poetry was simple and an unspoiled world lay bare age old secrets calling out to be discovered. Author's commentary: I don't remember what inspired me to write my first poems, but there was always something about language. Something profound, something powerful, something pure. I had no natural talent, and thankfully I didn't know it for I might have given up. But eventually, and by sheer accident, I pieced together something that worked proving poetry is not reserved solely for those with the predisposition but is also born of passion, study, and discipline. It was 15 years of frustration and tears as poem after bad poem was ripped to shreds by seasoned writers with invaluable, albeit sometimes harsh, advice before I created anything worthy of being read. But I am in love with poetic art so have persevered with humility and gratitude in the face of rejection until finding a rhythm of my own. And though a bit of time may sometimes pass before I am moved to write again, the words eventually spill forth, and with a bit of luck and ingenuity, I will write a profound piece of insightful prose stirring pride in the hearts of my mentors whose opinions I hold so dear. For me, it has never come easy but with a deep-rooted love for the art and an obsession for one day authoring a single, perfect verse, I hope to be unified in spirit with the ghosts of poets past inspiring and encouraging others to keep the craft alive.