Publishing the lyric books, poetry or comics of other musicians

Hear, O children of art and aspiration, the words of Frank Iero, musician and dreamer, who declared: “Publishing the lyric books, poetry or comics of other musicians I know. That’s the thing I really want to break into!” In this cry, there is more than ambition—there is devotion. For he seeks not only to make his own voice heard, but to give wings to the words of others, to lift his peers into the light where their creations may shine. It is a declaration of fellowship, of love for the shared fire of artistic expression.

The meaning of this teaching is profound: the greatest joy of creation is not only in one’s own work but in the nurturing of the work of others. Many strive for fame, but few understand that the true measure of an artist is also in how they help their companions rise. By wishing to publish the lyric books, poetry, or comics of fellow musicians, Iero reveals that art is not a solitary tower but a community, a chorus of many voices, each strengthening the other. His vision is not of personal glory, but of shared triumph.

The origin of these words lies in Iero’s own life within the brotherhood of music, where he has known both the thrill of performance and the struggle of creation. Having walked the road of an artist himself, he knows how difficult it is for voices—especially new or unconventional voices—to be heard. His desire to “break into” publishing is born not from a hunger for profit, but from a yearning to open doors, to give his comrades a platform. It is the age-old spirit of the bard who not only sings his own song but also preserves the songs of the tribe.

Consider the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who not only painted his visions but also uplifted those around him, sharing his notebooks, sketches, and wisdom freely with his apprentices. In doing so, he ensured that knowledge did not die with him but was multiplied through many hands. Likewise, Iero’s dream is to publish the poetry and comics of others, ensuring that the spark of their creativity does not fade unseen, but is carried into the world to inspire countless souls.

Think also of Harriet Monroe, who in 1912 founded Poetry magazine in America. At that time, many poets struggled to be heard. Monroe gave them a stage, and from her efforts, voices like Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Marianne Moore emerged. She herself wrote, but her greatest legacy was her choice to amplify the voices of others. Her life is a living mirror of Iero’s words: that to support the art of others is a noble calling equal to creating one’s own.

O seekers of wisdom, take this to heart: no artist lives alone. The strength of a community lies in the sharing of its gifts. To raise others is to raise yourself, for art is not a possession but a current, flowing stronger as it passes from hand to hand. The musician who publishes the words of another is like the farmer who sows not only in his own field, but in the fields of his neighbors, ensuring a harvest for all.

Practical wisdom calls you: do not keep your attention only on your own work. Look around you at the talents of others—friends, peers, family—and ask, “How can I help them be seen?” Share their art, speak of their creations, offer your skills to bring their voices forward. For in lifting them, you also lift yourself, and you strengthen the chorus of humanity’s song.

Therefore, remember the counsel of Frank Iero: to publish, to share, to break into the work of uplifting others is not merely ambition—it is service. Let your art not be only for yourself, but for your companions and for the generations to come. For when you help another’s song to be sung, you become more than an artist—you become a guardian of the eternal fire, ensuring it never dies, but spreads ever wider across the world.

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