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The Beginnings of my Poetry Filled Life -Alan j Wright

 


My earliest memory of writing poetry was when I was in Grade 4. I wrote a poem about springtime. That day we all wrote poems about springtime because that was the expectation back then. That was writing as we knew it back. Teachers handed out the topic and the genre and we the young and inexperienced writers, dutifully responded.

I recall my classmates liking my written efforts and suggesting I share my poem with our teacher, Mr Manzie. So, I took their advice and Mr Manzie liked my poem too. He invited me to share it with the class. When I read the poem aloud to the class their reaction was to clap in appreciation. This was a totally new experience.

All these years later, I cannot recall the actual words of that ancient poem. They have long vanished. However, I have never forgotten the feelings that washed over me knowing other people enjoyed my written composition, my humble poem.

The reaction to my poem ignited a spark energizing me to continue writing poetry, to persist. My self-belief had received a significant boost. I had awoken to the power of words, and I wanted more of that sense of poetry’s magical powers. I quickly realized that the only way to replicate that feeling was to create more words, more poetry.

When I shared my poem with my father that evening, he listened politely to my words, but I sensed he wasn’t completely convinced my words were original. I feel I have heard some of your words before, he told me.

At that moment his response left me feeling rather deflated. I felt I owned those springtime words. It took me many years to fully understand what had happened in that exchange with my father. His response had seemed harsh, but in reality, he had been honest. 

It is true that in those early fragile days of our writing lives we frequently imitate the literary giants to whom we are exposed. Across my many years as an educator, I have seen a host of writing samples displaying such textual tendencies. 

I now realize how probable it was that I too lent in a little too heavily on Wordsworth and Longfellow in my efforts to be viewed as poetically adept. When inexperienced writers imitate proficient writers, it is a precursor to developing the ability and the self-confidence to write independently of others. As the saying goes, first we imitate, then we innovate.

I have saved a place for poetry in my life ever since that day way back in grade 4 when a poem about springtime burst into the light with the probable assistance of poetry giants.

Feeling good about something you have created provides an energy that drives you to persist. My poet’s heart sprang to life that day and has continued to beat strongly since.

Alan j Wright

https://www.alanjwrightauthorpoet.com/










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