I recently ran across a friend of a friend’s blog who wrote about a piece of literature called Letters to a Young Poet. These are return letters that Rilke wrote to a young poet who sent his poems to Rilke to evaluate them. I have started reading these letters and they are absolutely captivating. Rilke had a gift to put the deepest, innermost thoughts and wisdom from life into words. Throughout the week, I am going to post pieces of his letters that contain wisdom we can learn from.

Today, I want to post a piece from his first letter. I would recommend that you read the What’s My Problem post that I posted last week and then read this piece below several times.

“You ask whether your verses are any good. You ask me. You have asked others before this. You send them to magazines. You compare them with other poems, and you are upset when certain editors reject your work. Now (since you have said you want my advice) I beg you to stop doing that sort of thing. You are looking outside, and that is what you should most avoid right now. 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? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your while life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.”