My father said that I could always become an actress, but I couldn't go back to college later in life. So I had to first finish my education, and then I could do what I wanted. At the time, I was not pleased, but now, I can't thank him enough. My parents were absolutely right.
Even though poetry was written for the 'minds ear' as well as the physical ear, the minds ear can be trained only by the other. . . which comes back to reading poetry aloud.