Letters to a Young Poet - Rainer Maria Rilke

“No one can advise or help you—no one. There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?”

— Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke

This quote has been sitting in my drafts on Tumblr. Let me share what it made me think:

I write because I want to express. I want to speak my mind. I am no writer, nor a poet and I have to say I was never good in expressing myself, mostly because of fear - fear for judgment and fear of hurting people. Although sometimes I take pride in it, I take pride in the fact that this fear made me more sensitive when it comes to dealing with people; when to say things at the right time. Even then, I want to improve on how I can be more expressive. That is my reason for writing. Most people write because they CAN express,  and writing is a way of immortalizing that. I write because I want to express, I want to talk more to myself, dig deep down my inner thoughts.

About the book.

Letters to a Young Poet was a book compiled of letters from Rilke to a young man named Franz Kappus. He, Kappus, wanted to ask for critiques for his poetry from a 27-year old Rilke and at the same time some career advice as he was discouraged in his life in the Austro-Hungarian Army. There are 10 letters in this compilation and originally written in the German language. Here's a site containing the letters, translated by a certain Stephen Mitchell.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

I myself have yet to start reading the letters. Maybe I could put some of my reflections here for each letter I read. That could be a challenge for myself for this blog for the time being. :)