The time we spent together forever shaped Ted's imagination. However, Ted felt lost and lacking when Gerald permanently emigrated to Australia. Encouraged by his family and teachers, Ted became inspired to write poetry and short stories in high school. He knew he wanted to be a poet at the age of sixteen. Many of his works were printed in school publications. With his two years of service in the Royal Air Force after school came his hunger to read Shakespeare, which later led to his eccentricity