Do you remember the Highlights magazine for children? When I was eight years old, my dad was so impressed with a poem I’d written, he decided to submit it to this magazine for publication.

I could say nothing ever came of it, but that’s not really true. On that day, my father changed my self-image forever. His enthusiastic praise and support caused me to believe I was a poet. Over the decades I have never wavered from this notion despite the criticism of teachers and the snickers of friends. You see, I know a secret which I share with you now: To be a poet, you just need to write poems.

This is not to say you will be a good poet. It’s unlikely anyone’s poems will influence the culture or earn them a place in history, but that’s not the motivation, is it?

“The Ladybug” poem that charmed my father so long ago is among my many forgotten childhood masterworks. Although most of my writings are lost, I’ve saved a few snippets and added some more recent ones. I share them with you here in the hopes that you will be inspired to simply write a poem.

It is my heartfelt hope that you take away two things from your visit here today.

• First, know that your enthusiastic praise, coupled with sincere actions, can alter someone’s self-image. Best of all, if that someone is a child, it can happen in an instant and last for a lifetime.

• Second, “you just need to write poems.”