Im a poet but i never talk to anyone about it ??!?

[QQq!]

I mean i been writing for years, (9 years+) it is one of my greatest passions and i love to read them and really find myself and purpose within the concepts of the need for poetry in the first place...

My problem is that i never talk about it to anyone when having conversations and stuff, i mean i never do, only a few friends know that ive somehow been able to share the information with, mostly because they're writers too, (or girlfriends for whom was able to read the things i wrote for them)

Im almost embarrassed to ever bring it up, like im maybe afraid of someone just randomly ask me to recite one of my poems or not take it seriously and make jokes that i write poetry so i refrain?

To people who write and tell people about it:

What is it like for you, is it an admired attribute? Does it get recognition or not?

To those who know who people who write:

What are your thoughts of someone who writes, poetry, plays and comedy if to be summed up with three words what would you say about them.

I would like the general opinion to help me start bringing up this passion of mine into conversations as subject matter (if the reactions are positive) casually and non obtrusively.

Thanks for replies. Good answer = good rating.

 

[Joanna J]

Yes, it's an admired attribute. Sometimes people ask me to email them my poetry (although I usually forget), but they've never expected me to have any of it memorized. I don't know your gender, but you may get less of a positive response from some people if you're male. It's just the way people are. Then again, you could always mention that you write rap as well, that would get a positive response from other guys. You could memorize one or two of your shorter poems for conversational purposes and say, "Hey, wanna hear a poem I wrote?" That's a nice, casual way to segway into it.