[Benjamin]

The reason I got into poetry was because I was very depressed when I was younger. I used to be quite overweight and my family life is probably one of the worst going and one day my teacher could see I was unhappy and said that if I couldn't face talking to anyone about it that writing it down through words may help me, even if I kept the words to myself. We happened to be doing Wilfred Owen at the time so I began writing poetry. It helps me a lot, even if it doesn't solve much, it helps me to gain some kind of release and perspective, and also led me to pursue it as a living along with performance.

I think everyone needs some form of release from monotony and feeling down, be it walking, writing, sports, music or travelling.