Once upon a time, I read that the perfect age for writing quality poetry is twenty-three.  Apparently most of T.S. Elliot’s stuff came out then, the rest of his work being supposedly non-poetic.

Conviction from said knowledge resulted in 46 poems written at 23. These poems came out exponentially faster and faster before my 24^th birthday on April 30^th – and I had to write in genres spanning from epic ballads to limericks to get 46 in on time. I guess that means, for better or worse, that’s the best poetry I’ll ever write. Sad day.

Who was I kidding?

Milton was blind and old—oooooold—when he published Paradise Regained. Emily Dickenson was dead when her stuff came out. My favorite stuff from T.S. Elliot came out after his conversion. So yeah, old age is good for poetry too. Look at Burns and Berry.

(Side note: the name “Berry Burns” sounds like a shady car salesman).

Will I keep up this twice-my-age regimen every few years? Who knows, but this year, here’s to 50 poems at 25 to be written exponentially faster until I turn 26 on April Thirtyish. I do it this the second time around as a way to say:

“Here’s to living life well before it’s too late.”

A few quick notes (you know how I love notation):

1. I call my birthday “April Thirtyish” because some of us Salemites used to combine any birthdays that happened between April 15^th and May 15^th into one epic party. In my mind, my birthday’s about everyone else since I typically have spent the rest of the year the way Narcissus spent his. That’s why I chose poetry—poetry by its existence enriches and pushes the language. Great poetry invents new grammars. So if you’re born close to Resurrection season… or spring… then it’s your party too—feel free to do something epic before you turn however old you’re turning.
2. I won’t apologize for April being poetry month here, I’ll only warn you ahead of time: if you don’t like poetry, you’ll have to learn. Hahaha, that sounds like a dad saying “eat your spinach and you’ll grow stronger,” but it’s true: read your poetry and other types of reading will come easier, better, brighter.
3. I’m counting The Last of the Tellers. Otherwise, this will not get done in the middle of everything else.

In any case, you should do something epic before you’re a year older. Go on. Give it a try. After all, it’ll be resurrection season–New Years for you Christians out there.

Hugs, Kisses, and Manful Verse,

PS > Here’s the rough schedule:

12 Saturdays (Last of the Tellers) starting week of Feb 9^th
11 Thursdays starting week of Feb 14^th
11 Tuesdays starting week of Feb 19^th
10 Sundays starting week of Feb 24^th
6 extra poems on my birthday: Tuesday, April 30^th

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50 poems written at 25 before I turn 26.