I know how you feel--I've seen it before--
Hell, I've been there on my own!
Everything you write hurts more,
And you feel 'bout as smart as a stone.

But you can't let fear weigh you down,
And you can't stop your pen instead.
So free your visage of that frown
That's dragging down your head.

It's in your blood and it's in your soul--
You've written how many years?
Give it time for your gift to unroll!
And dry your glistening tears.

You say that it's bad--well,
Every journey has a start.
You've got the knack, friend, I can tell,
And you've got it in your heart.

What's bad right now can be changed--
Your words aren't set in stone.
Add, subtract, divide a page,
Polish, buff, shine and hone.

Practice well and soon you'll see
That time smoothes faults away.
Don't worry you don't write perfectly--
No one does, anyway!

Find the voice that is your own,
And by all means, scream long and loud!
You'll look back and see how you've grown,
And be so happy and proud.

But most of all don't think you're bad
Unless someone else says you are.
For all that will leave you is wordless and sad,
But just believe, and you'll go far!