I’m always interested in hearing why poets write. And why poets and non-poets read poetry. In case you wonder this too, here is my story.

When I was in Grade 10, my English teacher handed out magic eye cards to everyone in the class. We thought it was another one of his “ketchup days” where we didn’t have to do any new work, but he tricked us into learning.

It’s a spaceship!

He admitted that he couldn’t see any magic eye pictures, no matter which technique he tried. He unfocused his eyes, he tilted the page, he focused harder. Nothing.

“You said keep your eyes out of focus, which is misleading. You want deep focus!”

“So why do you collect them?” a student asked.

“Because they are like poems,” he said. “Some people can see into all of them, or most of them. Some people see them reversed.”

I don’t think he meant this by reversed . . .

“I collect them because I’m looking for that one poem for me. Don’t give up. Keep reading.”

Not only did I keep reading, but I wrote my first (terrible) poem that day of many (terrible) poems to come. I hope someday one of my (now better) poems might be a magic eye picture for you.

So, what’s your story? (or the poem that got you hooked)

Comment on this page or Tweet me @writelightning

I’d love to hear it!