Members »

sharons.14357
  Junior Member

I've been writing poetry since I was around 6 years old. My parents encouraged all of us to find our own truth and mine was through writing. At first I didn't know much about poetry or that there were so many different styles of poetry until I got into high school. I'd stopped writing for a time in elementary school because of an incident that happened in the 4th grade. But my mom told me "Never hold your words in when you can give them life." With those words and my English teacher cleverness it got my creative juices flowing again. He had us read Edgar Allen Poe's Hop-Frog while in class and as a homework assignment he wanted us to continue the story, make it our own in the style of E. A. Poe. I couldn't wait and started writing during my lunch break. When I turned in my paper I wasn't sure what my teacher would think about it, but when I got it back with a 99 on it and a little note saying " Edgar Allen Poe would be proud" with a big smiley face. At that point I knew I had to start writing again. Poe continues to be one of my favorite poets to date. Maya Angelo and Shakespare also help influenced my writing. Maya and the way that she expresses life situations, even her own experiences. She gave me the courage to give voice to my own light, my own pain. If people could understand and empathize with my poetry then my dream would be partially complete. Shakespare showed me that it's good to be funny sometimes, not everything has to be dark. I try to apply tht to my writing as well.