Life, poetry.

Melody is already inherent in the language, and if I pay close enough attention to the roundness of the vowels and the cadence of the words, I can tease the melody out of the words it is already woven into. I have found that continual referral back to the original “feeling tone” of the inspiration, the constant re-touching of that hum and cry, more important than the fireworks of its origin. I have learned to be steady in my course of love, or fear, or loneliness, rather than impulsive in its wasting, either lyrically or emotionally. [- Rosanne Cash]

Just read this today. I admire the beautiful way in which she has expressed this thought. Although she's saying this in reference to song writing, it's also something to keep in mind when writing a semi-autobiographical piece.

The story is there, and the poetry is there. It merely needs tapping into, and then teased into a shape that's pleasing.