My dad wanted to name me after Rainier Maria Rilke, the poet.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
As the youngest, I wanted to be my father's son and perpetuate the family name.
My father was a classical musician and my mother was a writer.
I had written here and there about my mother in my poems. There are poems for her in my first and second books.
My father started out as a riveter, but he had the soul of an artist. He worshiped Shakespeare and had aspirations to be an actor. He claimed that from the first day he laid eyes on me, I was going to be this great dramatic actress.
My mother was an actress and a director, as well. And my father was a playwright and poet.
I made myself into a poet because it was the first thing I really loved. It was an act of will.
My father had wanted to name me for Dylan Thomas. He had seen him speak on one of those drunken poetry tours he did.
I was named after my mother's maiden name.
I was very lucky to have a mother who encouraged me to become a poet.
I'm a big fan of the poet Mary Jo Salter, and although she doesn't need to be discovered at all - she's widely admired and anthologized and extremely accomplished - I wish she were a household name.