Mail-sorting poets and the importance of writing

I think it's just lovely when I read newspaper articles about writers who've won awards with prize money that's actually worth something. Writers seem to draw the short straw so often - as do many creative arts - because people do it because they're passionate, and not for the financial reward. Yet a financial reward, and the freedom to live without being scared of the next bill coming in, while creating incredible books and stories and poetry that can change the world, is pretty important. Right?

Okay, my rant's over now. I was just pleased because I read a story about a mail-sorting poet in New Zealand who won NZ$65,000 for his book of poems called Abandoned Novel. (Hmm, I have a real abandoned novel, wonder if I can get anything for that?!). David Beach is called the mail-sorting poet because he's worked for many years both for Australia Post and New Zealand post, sorting mail - I guess that's the kind of work that leaves your brain free for daydreaming and poem composing. In any case, I loved this quote from him:

That a book of poems can win a $65,000 prize makes me feel as if I've stumbled into a parallel universe where poetry is considered important.

And while he's talking about the problem of poetry often being overlooked in favour of novels or short stories, I still want to be in his parallel universe, where all writing is considered important. All arts, for that matter. In this parallel universe, people would tell me "you're working hard at home writing today" instead of "you've got the day off". But I did say my rant was over.