One and Twenty till Death

**eh ehm**

Poe, Shelley, Wordsworth, Coleridge, & Keats: Some of the greatest English poets (and perhaps this observation transcends languages) were all incredibly young when they wrote their "masterpieces." It was in the fervour of their youth, their newly-awakened senses to the world, their idealistic perceptions, their polarized complex views of pain, love, suffering, endurance, beauty, nature, and death, which amount to what are contemporary literary standards. I would even go so far as to say, what they wrote in this short period during their own lives, has influenced the perceptions of our entire society. They have left an impact on so many from their ideas.

This is not something novel, or exemplary in itself. What I found truly remarkable about them, was that they made these observations and wrote these words of depth, beauty, and wonder at such a young age. In their early twenties, most people of our time are grappling with trivial concepts. These men dealt with poverty, families,children, wives,work or lack thereof and yet had the insight, the depth the... I'm not sure what the word is, the genius (?) to extract some lessons of life from it. They put into words their pain, suffering, their love, and epiphanies that are so poignant even today. They tell us of our emotions better than we can describe them ourselves.

Why is it that now at twenty-whatever we usually see parties, immaturity, confusion, and/or apathy of the world around them? In the words of a twenty-whatever that I know, " I'm worried about me right now, not what is happening half way around the world." Their are few that care about others, or even the insight and depth to care about themselves.

Why do we think that twenty-whatevers have yet to become what they will be, or what they will be remembered for? Why shouldn't they aspire to achieve good things, perhaps even great things in their youth? We have lowered and lowered the bar to a point where even if a 21 year old exhibits the carelessness of a 6 six year old, it is acceptable.

To those who think they will do great things later in life, why wait? Do whatever you can at this point, in this moment... UTILIZE your youth for you, not against you! Carpe Diam!!

**steps off soapbox**