The Minstrel; or the Progress of Genius with some other poems

"The Minstrel; or the Progress of Genius" by James Beattie is a poem about a boy named Edwin and his path to becoming a great artist, set back in the 1700s. The story starts by talking about how hard it is to become famous and how many people give up trying. Edwin starts out as a shepherd, living a peaceful life in the countryside, and is really connected to nature. As he gets older, it becomes clear that he's a special, creative individual who is headed for a hard life that will test him to his limits as he tries to follow his dreams in a world where it is difficult to be different and artistic.