Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

A book review.

Something that intrigued me in one of Hozier’s (my favorite artist) interviews was his response to being asked how he knows if a piece of his writing will become a song. He said that when you look at those words, the song would scream to be sung, and deep down, you’d know it would be a great dishonor to the song if it weren’t sung. And this stuck with me, the idea that art has a voice of its own, asking to be unleashed and having its own calling.

These letters explore a similar message but focus on writing and the most important question - “Must I write?” Rilke says that for a poet, a work of art is good if it has risen out of necessity, and they would feel as though they’d have to die if they were forbidden to write. He beautifully explains how solitude is important for a creative person, allowing them to walk inside themselves and meet no one for hours.

The letters are very humble and heartfelt. Rilke never gave the young poet yes or no answers to their questions but always showed direction, like a mentor. However, these are one-sided letters, so the other parts of the recipient letters are missing. It would have been great if those were present too. It’s still a great book that should be read by anyone who wants to write. Beautiful, wise, and soothing.