All week long, I have wanted to write something about Robin Williams. With his zany, madcap energy and mile-a-minute comedic riffs, he was the very last person you would expect to check himself out early, wasn’t he? Much has been speculated on as everyone tries to figure out the why of it all – depression, drugs, a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. Truth be told, only he knew why and he didn’t choose to share with us the reason.
And that’s ok. He shared with us so much else.
For several months now, I’ve been trying to figure out my own voice on this blog. It is primarily a book blog, to share with you my thoughts on the latest novels I have been reading. Alas, life often gets in the way, weeks go by and I find that before I know it, much time has passed and the next book I planned to read and talk to you about is just sitting there on my shelf, growing dusty. Work, family commitments, general duties of taking care of myself and others – the business of life, it more often than not comes first.
For as long as I can remember, I have always dreamed of being a published author. Double Alas, it has yet to happen. Such is life. I find myself often wishing that I could go back in time – back to the days when I was picking a college major – and become an English teacher. That way, at the end of my life, if my dream of getting published never pans out, I could at least say that I spent my time on this planet being involved with something I love – reading books and talking to people about them. Maybe in a smaller way, that’s what I’m doing here.
Robin, you were an alien, a genie, a wacky doctor, an unconventional President, a down on his luck shrink, a DJ in Vietnam, and yes, you were even a divorced man who had to stoop to the level of dressing up like an old British nanny just to see his kids. But for the purposes of our little online community of literature lovers, your stint as an English teacher is what I’ll leave my readers with today:
The “What Will Your Verse Be?” Speech from Dead Poets Society (1989)
We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, ‘O me! O life!…of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless..of cities filled with the foolish, what good amid these, O me, O life?’ Answer: that you are here; that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
As always, fellow Bookshelf Battlers, thank you for reading. I wish you the best of luck in finding your verse.
Bookshelf Battle 
Of course, I love this movie, and of course, I love this inspiring speech. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your blog.
I would also like to encourage you. If you want to be a published author, the only way to get there is to write every day, and then to put your work out there. Write, go to conferences, write, get involved with the writing community in your area, write.
If you want it, you can make it happen, but it doesn’t happen with just wishing. 🙂 You can’t edit a blank page.
Write!
Thanks, that’s good advice. I feel like this blog is more or less mental exercise – training for the real thing.
Probably the best tribute I’ve read so far. Thank you!
Glad you liked it.
perfect.
I remember Williams from “What Dreams May Come”, which is for me the best movie ever made. He was excellent in showing the reluctance AND the ability of the ordinary man in recognizing his imagination as a reality.
That’s one of those movies I keep meaning to watch but so far have never gotten around to it. It is also about one man’s sadness over the death of his wife – probably takes new meaning in light of what happened.
The heaven depicted in the movie is pure human happiness, irresistible and worth dying if you believe in it for one moment.
I loved many of his movies including “Dead Poets Society.” I wrote this poem the day he died: http://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-by-dennis-lange/
And, btw, thanks for the follow.