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Can a poet make enough money at poetry to survive? And if so, is that a good idea?

Asked by elbanditoroso (33161points) May 20th, 2013

I was reading earlier about the late poet Karl Shapiro (died in 2000, Poet Laureate in 1946). In addition to publishing several books, he also taught English to pay the bills.

In this day and age, can a poet make a living writing poetry? – (I don’t mean a lavish living – I mean enough to pay the rent and put food on the table) -

And if a poet can make a living writing poetry, is that a good thing? Does poetry come from struggle and suffering? Does living too well bring in a hubris, and damage the inner muse of the poet?

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