Now this is something I know about if not poetry.
I don't know if "Good poets don't drive cars" but if you do not drive your poetry will improve.
Driving a car slowly through the uncrowded country side is one thing, but these days, at least in Texas, it is mind numbing and dangerous. Over 80 teenagers have died in auto wrecks in the last year in the county San Antonio is in, and 8 people have died in a four mile stretch of four lane highway south of where we live. People here drive fast, road rage is frequent, and accidents (crashes) are all over the place. People pass recklessly, tailgate and speed without regard for consequences, and there are few, because law inforcement here is lacking. And don't be the one who suggests putting speed-bumps in your neighborhood here in Texas!
Last year, when I drove my son to school, there were four accidents in four days in a row in the one mile to the school.
Poetry does not come out of being mentally and emotionally shocked on daily basis. Stress blinds you.
It is so odd to think that we have all these wonderful things in modern life and yet people drive so fast in cars that will literally disintegrate into pieces if anything goes wrong--and they do it to themselves! Why? So they can get to their stressful jobs sooner?
The ugly American is becoming the angry American.
The ideal life for me does not have a car in it. This is why I am attracted to places like San Francisco, New York, Monhegan Island and Sanibel Island. I lived half my life on 5 square miles in Baltimore, almost all in walking distance.
Driving is really a stress factor, which will affect all of your life, let alone writing poetry.
If I go down to the Trek bike store today and buy a bike will I write better poetry? It might better be an off-road bike. Texas has the highest death rate of cars killing bicyclers in the US.
TJ
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