The authors shortlisted for the Man Booker 2012 literary prize (L-R) Deborah Levy, Tan Twan Eng, Hilary Mantel, Will Self, Jeet Thayil and Alison Moore, October 15, 2012. (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)
The authors shortlisted for the Man Booker 2012 literary prize (L-R) Deborah Levy, Tan Twan Eng, Hilary Mantel, Will Self, Jeet Thayil and Alison Moore, October 15, 2012. (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)

BooksDecember 6, 2019

The Friday Poem: The Writing Life by Harry Ricketts

Guest writer
The authors shortlisted for the Man Booker 2012 literary prize (L-R) Deborah Levy, Tan Twan Eng, Hilary Mantel, Will Self, Jeet Thayil and Alison Moore, October 15, 2012. (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)
The authors shortlisted for the Man Booker 2012 literary prize (L-R) Deborah Levy, Tan Twan Eng, Hilary Mantel, Will Self, Jeet Thayil and Alison Moore, October 15, 2012. (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)

A new poem by Harry Ricketts.

 

The Writing Life

 

You want to write.

You want to be published.

You want to be read.

 

You want to be a cult figure.

You want to be reviewed.

You want to write.

 

You want to win prizes.

You want to be anthologised.

You want to be read.

 

You want to be taught in schools and at uni.

You want books written about you.

You want to write.

 

You want to be translated.

You want other writers to admire your work.

You want to be read.

 

You want eulogies and elegies at your death.

You want to be remembered forever.

You want to write.

You want to be read.

 

The Friday Poem is edited by Ashleigh Young. Submissions are welcome at thefridaypoem@gmail.com

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