What makes me feel successful as a poet?
When I started writing poems, I did it for myself. I wrote them down, toss them in the drawer of my desk and forgot about them. I had fulfilled my need to write, and that gave me a feeling of satis...
When I started writing poems, I did it for myself. I wrote them down, toss them in the drawer of my desk and forgot about them. I had fulfilled my need to write, and that gave me a feeling of satisfaction. Over the years, I have probably thrown away tens of poems from the drawers. Looking back, I wish I had saved them as time capsules of my life.
I was very uncomfortable in sharing my poems. They were too intimate, too private. The poems revealed how I thought, and how I felt. Over the years, many people had confessed that they too had written poems, when they were younger, but they kept them to themselves. Probably for the same reasons. Letting other people read the poems requires bravery. It requires you to take an emotional risk.
When my children turned to young adults, I shared some of my poems with them. Then some more. Finally, I let some of my friends read or listen to my poems. I began to realize that instead of my audience looking straight to my soul, they reflected in their own. To the point that some of them could not continue, as their feelings grew too intense. My poem had stricken a chord deep inside them. I felt successful, as I had successfully conveyed emotions, desires and feelings in a way that my audience could relate to them.
To me being a successful writer and a poet is not about how many books I sell. It is not about fame either. Although, those would be a nice bonus.
The first step for success for me is to be able to put on paper the poem that is invading my brain and disrupting my feelings. Once I get it done, I can go back to being my usual calm self.
The ultimate success comes from the feedback given by my audience. The interpretation of the poem depends on the audience, and their life experiences. Hence, I very seldom explain my poems, because it might ruin it from the person reading it. But when I am told that my reader could not finish the poem due to emotional response, or that they felt sad, joyous or lighthearted, that means success for me. I really cannot ask for more.