Matt sent this through. I thought it was brilliant and had to share it.
Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favourite writers!
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write a famous author and ask for advice. Kurt Vonnegut was the only one to respond – and his response is magnificent: “Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta:
I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana.
What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.
Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula.
Here’s an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don’t do it: Write a six-line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net. Make it as good as you possibly can. But don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Don’t show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms. Lockwood. OK?
Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash receptacles. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow.
God bless you all!
Fantastic!
Kurt was very special!
Yes, he was.
I may go back and reread all his books. Talking about him has created a thirst.
Good books are meant to be read over again. I tell my parents and children that.
I enjoy reading a good book again and again. It is amazing what else you find in them.
Yes!! Every read you discover something new.
Doesn’t work with all books though. The Magus by John Fowles was my favourite book. It creates such an uncertainty but once you know the ending, it means you can’t read it the same.
Good point!
Sometimes it’s frustrating. You want to get the same magic as the first time!
Yes… but you learn something new. It’s a double edged sword.
True.
Ah, one of his many famous letters. Always on point with humor, and grace. Even if sometimes in the abstract realm.
Very well put John.
…
I wonder how many students followed through with that exercise. Kurt sure was a wise one.
Kurt is my favourite writer Amanda. He was great.
My son knew of him but I am only now discovering his writing.
I wish I was discovering him all over again. Such wit and wisdom.
And insight!
Yes – and insight!
👍
😊😊😊