deepundergroundpoetry.com
Letters To A Young Poet - I
Oliveira do Hospital
Central Portugal
My dearest J,
I cannot tell you how much I was both surprised and delighted to receive three letters from you; yes, all at once. Well, that’s the way of the post round here.
I am writing to you from “the green heart of Portugal”; alas, green no more after a terrible firestorm last year burnt hundreds of square miles, a result of endless ghastly pine and eucalyptus plantations. Did you know that only 1% of Portugal’s indigenous forests remain? (Something to tell your geography teacher).
I will answer your letters each separately and in date order. After all, it’s more fun to receive three individual replies rather than just one long one.
Clearing up your first concern immediately, our correspondence is absolutely in confidence. I fully understand there are some things a young boy needs to talk about that he feels unable to discuss with his parents. Well, that is what uncles are for!
How old are you now? Nine? Ten? Forgive me, I am the wayward family uncle who forgets the birthdays of his nephews and nieces - and who travels a lot. But of course this is why you wrote to me because instinctively you thought I was someone in the family who would ‘understand’. Inasmuch as I can, I shall do my best.
You say you enjoy reading, memorising and reciting poetry but are thinking of giving it up because you get horribly teased as a result. Oh my! If only I could convey to you even one tenth of the benefit gained from committing poetry to heart and mind, you would not fail to continue even if you were banished to the moon.
My dearest J, this is a delicate and precious time in your life when you can easily be thrown off track. If you have a deep desire to learn poetry then do so with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and ignore there flak. Humans are designed to learn by trial and error. That means we have many trials and make many errors. Theirs are theirs and yours are yours. And the best way to navigate this strange journey is to keep as close as we can to the motivation that springs from within. So I urge you: stay true to your poetic inclinations.
Your final point. You say you fight back by shouting “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” - but “it doesn’t work”. Now read carefully. When we are young we need to believe that what is true, is true always and in all cases. As we grow older we realise it is not the case. Something that is true at one level is not necessarily true at another. It is a tough realisation. Hence both the difference and similarity of “sticks & stones” versus “words”, and poetry will help you understand all this at a deep level. The fruit of perseverance will indeed be a treasure-trove.
With love and affection,
Uncle Jocelyn.
#Rainer Maria Rilke
Central Portugal
My dearest J,
I cannot tell you how much I was both surprised and delighted to receive three letters from you; yes, all at once. Well, that’s the way of the post round here.
I am writing to you from “the green heart of Portugal”; alas, green no more after a terrible firestorm last year burnt hundreds of square miles, a result of endless ghastly pine and eucalyptus plantations. Did you know that only 1% of Portugal’s indigenous forests remain? (Something to tell your geography teacher).
I will answer your letters each separately and in date order. After all, it’s more fun to receive three individual replies rather than just one long one.
Clearing up your first concern immediately, our correspondence is absolutely in confidence. I fully understand there are some things a young boy needs to talk about that he feels unable to discuss with his parents. Well, that is what uncles are for!
How old are you now? Nine? Ten? Forgive me, I am the wayward family uncle who forgets the birthdays of his nephews and nieces - and who travels a lot. But of course this is why you wrote to me because instinctively you thought I was someone in the family who would ‘understand’. Inasmuch as I can, I shall do my best.
You say you enjoy reading, memorising and reciting poetry but are thinking of giving it up because you get horribly teased as a result. Oh my! If only I could convey to you even one tenth of the benefit gained from committing poetry to heart and mind, you would not fail to continue even if you were banished to the moon.
My dearest J, this is a delicate and precious time in your life when you can easily be thrown off track. If you have a deep desire to learn poetry then do so with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and ignore there flak. Humans are designed to learn by trial and error. That means we have many trials and make many errors. Theirs are theirs and yours are yours. And the best way to navigate this strange journey is to keep as close as we can to the motivation that springs from within. So I urge you: stay true to your poetic inclinations.
Your final point. You say you fight back by shouting “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” - but “it doesn’t work”. Now read carefully. When we are young we need to believe that what is true, is true always and in all cases. As we grow older we realise it is not the case. Something that is true at one level is not necessarily true at another. It is a tough realisation. Hence both the difference and similarity of “sticks & stones” versus “words”, and poetry will help you understand all this at a deep level. The fruit of perseverance will indeed be a treasure-trove.
With love and affection,
Uncle Jocelyn.
#Rainer Maria Rilke
Published 26th Sep 2018
| Edited 8th Mar 2024
Author's Note
Entered for the "Letters To A Young Poet" competition hosted by Ahavati.
(photo credit: I think by Geoffrey Boston, one of the masters who taught Geography at my boarding school, and who was also a keen photographer. Photo 1964-6, when I was 8-10 years old.)
(photo credit: I think by Geoffrey Boston, one of the masters who taught Geography at my boarding school, and who was also a keen photographer. Photo 1964-6, when I was 8-10 years old.)
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
26th Sep 2018 5:29pm
I am amazed at how you look the same.
Excellent entry, Josh.
(I hope it's a comp entry?)
Excellent entry, Josh.
(I hope it's a comp entry?)
26th Sep 2018 9:05pm
Thank you. Now entered in comp. Sometimes I feel the same too, having a sense of being at the beginning of life with everything to play for still in front of me. :))
Anonymous
26th Sep 2018 10:48pm
Dear friend, you are a good listener by what I deduct from this "letter". You truly put in evidence the things you actually don't say. Your thoughts. The fact that the boss-father figure (in Italian it renders better padre - padrone) is predominante as is the figure of peers that tease and gang up on anyone who is out of the group. It is impressive how you manage to analyse these forms of bigotry with an elegance and philosophy that is beyond that of any uncle. You are a teacher that listens. You are a doctor that uses the soothing balm of words to free the young lad from his doubts. Magnificent! Truly. I read the second as well, but I believe that commenting here, as a unique thing, is proper (even if you say that it would be better to write distinctive answers).You see? I was reading very carefully. Your soul is poured in this write and it is fantastic. I wish I had an uncle like this. My uncles were great people, but they were patriarchal. Hence it was always :"listen to your father". Great job. J
27th Sep 2018 4:54pm
Dear Juvenalis,
I was very touched by your thoughtful and considered feed-back. Although one always writes essentially for oneself it is always energising when what has been written goes further and is appreciated - especially in ways that add depth.
As long-term member of a men's group (ages 50-70) I have witnessed many times the debilitating effect of Patriarchy, war-karma and childhood trauma. We are all in 'recovery' and the current increasingly destructive mindset that seems to have a grip on this planet forces us I guess to reconsider our hidden beliefs (and the hurting stories that go with them) and to find a way of bringing those stories to completion - which at best is an action that contributes to healing collective trauma.
I find much of the poetry on DUP stems from this deep need to express the pain already within, look at it with a bit of distance, and know that it is shared in an empathetic environment.
Thank you so much
Josh
I was very touched by your thoughtful and considered feed-back. Although one always writes essentially for oneself it is always energising when what has been written goes further and is appreciated - especially in ways that add depth.
As long-term member of a men's group (ages 50-70) I have witnessed many times the debilitating effect of Patriarchy, war-karma and childhood trauma. We are all in 'recovery' and the current increasingly destructive mindset that seems to have a grip on this planet forces us I guess to reconsider our hidden beliefs (and the hurting stories that go with them) and to find a way of bringing those stories to completion - which at best is an action that contributes to healing collective trauma.
I find much of the poetry on DUP stems from this deep need to express the pain already within, look at it with a bit of distance, and know that it is shared in an empathetic environment.
Thank you so much
Josh
Anonymous
27th Sep 2018 7:10pm
Indeed my friend. Indeed. Hugs J
26th Sep 2018 11:30pm
I made the mistake of reading Part 2 first. You're a master of both prose and poetry, even if I screwed up.
27th Sep 2018 4:56pm
Hi Crowfly,
My answer to Juvealis above is written also with replying to you in mind.
My answer to Juvealis above is written also with replying to you in mind.
