The Address of Poetry, TWO - Sally Eslinger's Blog

So

The Address of Poetry, TWO

Probably out of order, but my next pressing question follows.  The answers to it seem obvious, but please indulge me.....ARE POETS BORN SO OR MADE SO ?

Put aside for a bit the ideas around inherited “talents.”  By this use of “born” I mean our Lord’s — or Nature’s — hoped-for plan  for us, given before birth, as aided by his gifts to us.  Like, I truly believe I can teach anyone to write a decent poem, BUT, I believe the compulsion TO see, live, feel & write as a poet is something BORN into a person — even if they don’t take it up & livea tormented life without knowing why, or put their poetry into painting over writing.

THUS,
I do say ALL poets are also MADE: by education, by life experiences, by accidents, by their cultural times, by supports or lack thereof, & by other helpful characteristics such .as courage and persistence. 

And, while we are born with 5 senses and heaven-knows how many dimensions, the questions about the actualizing of the poetic life are vast, maybe taking another 50 years to approach answering.

I was, also, born a Christian Mystic.  Such a Being is BORN to it.  You cannot Make  one, tho u try with good acting lessons.  Of my own life, I was Spiritually inclined from age 5, but was 39 before mystical experiences began.

Here I note you may want to check on the poetic & writing lives of medieval mystics, many of whom were women.  Also, check on writing by Colin McGinn re: those topics as well as his current work w/others re: the sub and collective unconscious.

Meanwhile, bring on the thoughts!