Authors And Poets

It strikes me,
that people, who are
admired for their talent
and their achievement
seldom have biographies
that I would have wanted
to live in their stead.

It makes me wonder -
How good can I be
With my hardly 20 years?
And how good will I ever be
Under the curse
Of a peaceful home
And without ever
Having been endowed
with true misery.

by Laila Johanna Balke

Comments (3)

I like this a lot! You are only 20, oh so young...but you do have a gift. It is true with age and suffering, talents sometimes emerges, but I do believe that it is already in you, perfect life and all. Keep writing! Warm wishes, Theodora Onken

Poetry Hound has a point You have alot of good things to inspire you look around you dont have to write about saddness poeple like emotion no doubt but to be happy after reading a poem is a great thing be observate and look a little deeper into things around you It will come read too you have the want too. good luck

Excellent questions, Laila. Excellent. Somehow misery inspires. But it doesn't automatically make you talented. Just look at all the broken hearted posters on this site - lots of emotion but very little talent. I think just life experiences in general is the stuff of good poetry and good art. That and reading lots and lots and lots of poetry and letting yourself marinate in it and be influenced by it. Now, please don't do anything drastic just to come up with inspiration for poetry.