[Jim Moonan]

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Originally Posted by N. Matheson

And yet, the broad consensus I have found among scholars and historians is that in 400 years, no author, however skilled, has surpassed Shakespeare's genius. It does seem to have concluded with him.

I'm beginning to think you are young. Youth is an insufferable thing.

And I disagree with your opinion that Shakespeare has no equal. I am of the opinion that for every "great" poet, artist, musician, singer, actor, etc. there are a dozen equally talented artists (some I dare say are here) that fail to achieve fame and their work goes largely unnoticed; lost in the wake of oblivion. Those who toil in relative obscurity may want to be recognized as having no equal, but it doesn't consume them. As Christine said, they kept writing anyway. Besides, there is no "best". Only different. Consensus is not the arbiter of greatness. Somebody had to be Shakespeare. So far it's not you.

I'm curious: is it the turn of phrase that you are so enamored with? Or is it the transformative message concealed within it? Are you aspiring to be the bottle or the message? If it's the former, carry on with your anachronistic verbiage. If it's the latter, look around. Everything waits for you to find it. Don't let your youth overwhelm you into thinking you'll never be who you want to be. You are evolving.

You wallow. I'm sorry, but you do. Read Christine's Autumn Confessional poem to see how to live comfortably in your own skin. Within this thread you've gained a trove of earnest, honest experienced advice. (I have.) There's much truth to Nemo's comments that were also echoed by others. I think Mark's point is the point you are continually overlooking in this back and forth: "...if you need to write you will write. And I really believe that you will find it so freeing when you learn to do so in your own voice."

Do you also speak anachronistically? How would you order an ice cream?

Maybe you're not young. Maybe you're as old as the mountains. One way or another change is coming. Dylan spoke plainly when he said, "Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now." I hear Shakespeare in that.

I think this Shakespeare thing is over-blown.

"We all shine on" spoketh John Lennon

Last question: why are you here?

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