My writing career began when I was twelve and I wrote a book of poems that I wished to be published. My teacher denied my request, explaining to me that I was already too arrogant and that I did not need my self esteem elevated any higher. The next poem that I wrote was called “To Helen”, and it was written for my “mother”, Mrs. Stanard, who was a woman that I dearly loved. While I was attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, I composed a poem called “Song,” for a girl that I was pre-engaged to in Baltimore. She ....