What is it to be a poet? I have often wondered what it means to be a poet. Is it the mere act of writing a poem? Of having one's poetry published? Is it the public recognition as a more or less well-known poet? Who knows? I tend to think that it is more a case of one's outlook on life that determines whether or not one is a poet. I feel that being a poet necessarily requires a natural, almost child-like wonder at finding one's self alive in the world. To not take things for granted and to celebrate life (and death)in verse to the best of one's ability. Of course, being a succesful poet also means that the artist needs to perfect his craft. The poet needs to hone his or her skills, to perfect the trade. But is it a career path that the poet chooses or is it rather a fate, a destiny the poet can't help but accept? To heed the calling of the muses is to know that you as a poet are singular. It is to acknowledge with every fibre in your poetic being that you need to unravel the mystery in life, not to then explain that mystery or solve it; but to celebrate the fact that not everything that matters is matter. It is dealing with arcane secrets and to re-establish the link between heart and mind, body and soul; to re-connect the mundane with the ethereal, mortal men and women with their deepest ancient desires, to stir in the cauldron where the archetypes hide. Ultimately, I feel the true poet needs to guide the reader back to where we all came from, The Garden, from whence we were evicted, even if just for a fleeting transcending moment, to breathe in that purest of air and savour that clear innocence we sometimes still remember, however vaguely. But perhaps that's just me.
