When we got to the part where we had to improvise an argument in a poetic language, I got cold feet. I can't do this, I said. I don't know what to say.Say anything, he said. You can't make a mistake when you improvise.What if I mess it up? What if I screw up the rhythm?You can't, he said. It's like drumming. If you miss a beat, you create another.In this simple exchange, Sam taught me the secret of improvisation, one that I have accessed my whole life.
The narrator recounts a moment of uncertainty while attempting to improvise an argument in poetic language. Feeling anxious and doubting her ability, she expresses her fears about messing up the rhythm or content of her performance. However, her companion reassures her, emphasizing that improvisation allows for mistakes and that one can simply create new beats if they falter, likening it to drumming.
This exchange imparts a valuable lesson about creativity and the freedom that comes with improvisation. It highlights the importance of overcoming fear and embracing spontaneity, a principle that the narrator has carried with her throughout her life. Sam's encouragement becomes a pivotal moment that shapes her understanding of artistic expression.
