The Poet Within: My Journey from Schoolchild to Author

Reflecting on my first foray into poetry, I was ten years old when I penned a simple yet poignant poem about a lonely house. Over the years, that memory remains vivid, a testament to that child’s imagination. The poem went like this:

The Lonely House
I wandered by a lonely house
A house with shutters drawn
With doors locked tight against the light
Despondent and forlorn.
The very sparrows of the air
Flew by its empty eaves
And viewed with scorn the ragged lawn
The trees bereft of leaves.
I pondered as I wandered by—
Though lone, it had a twin:
A human heart that opened not
To let the sun shine in.

History and Evolution of Poetry

Poetry, a form of writing that has endured for centuries, is rich with history and cultural significance. It has been used as a tool for storytelling and entertainment since ancient times. However, it gained a new dimension in the 1700s when poets began to use it as a means to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. In ancient Rome, poets elevated their craft by performing at public events such as weddings and funerals. This tradition continued, with poets often performing at festivals and other cultural gatherings.

The earliest poems were written on clay tablets by Mesopotamian people, dating back to the Bronze Age, between the 18th and 16th centuries BCE. These inscriptions, often in the cuneiform script, are a testament to the enduring nature of poetry.

A Personal Journey

My love for poetry began not only from a young age but also as part of my formal education. In my English Language and Literature studies, writing poetry was a regular assignment. However, it was not until after school that my passion for poetry truly blossomed. At the age of 26, I began to explore more creative ideas and started writing dozens of songs. This only fueled my desire to write more, and over the years, thousands of poems followed.

The majority of my work is stored on the Poemhunter website as a free PDF poetry collection. You can download all 3,200 poems from this platform:

A Milestone Moment

Around the age of 16, I witnessed a poignant moment that left a lasting impact. One of my friends, a teenager, passed away due to a brain tumor. As a classmate, I carried the coffin with five other schoolmates. This experience was deeply moving, and one of my friends’ mothers inspired me by penning a poem as an obituary. To this day, I still have a copy of that poem in my memory box. It reads:

RIP MD
... (rest of the poem)

That moment taught me the power of words, and how they can honor and preserve the memories of those we have lost.

Note: The full text of the poem has been excluded to maintain copyright integrity.

In conclusion, my journey as a poet has been an evolving path filled with personal stories, historical insights, and a deep love for the craft of writing. From my first poem at the age of ten to the thousands of poems I continue to write today, poetry has been a constant in my life.