Poets tell us of absence, and of kindness
Jill posted this and I knew immediately it had to join our Poemapalooza for National Poetry Month. It is a simple poem, it seems, yet there is so much there, around and through the words. The Mower The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found A hedgehog jammed up against the …
Consider the hands that write this letter
How do we write? Not just the physicality of the act, beautiful enough – hands against paper – but more than that: holding the door to ourselves shut and knocking to get in, simultaneously. Lovely. Lovely. Consider the Hands that Write This Letter after Marina Wilson Consider …
Poets ground us, give us place
The Earth Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth, I believe. He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, to dwell upon …
Poets sing on the Paris Metro
Our National Poetry Month Poemapalooza is also going to Paris today for a gorgeous song sung by a group called Naturally 7. A hat tip to Sue Pelletier for posting this video – made me cry, for some reason. It is akin to the story of violin virtuoso Joshua Bell …
Poets tell us having is giving and giving is living
[Image from one of the most visually appealing, gorgeous blogs I know. The colors, the colors…] And a poem for Kelly, who says she loves e.e. cummings. Me, too. I have a history with him. And it’s also a poem for those who love the spring, ignoring for the moment …
Poets help us survive
There is, perhaps, no better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than by remembering that poetry helps us survive, points things out to us, provides a common language and experience, focuses and hones our attention to a shared point, evoking understanding, introspection, recognition, a spark of life. It was poetry …
Like his son-poet, a father-poet composing a life
Icarus is still at our poetry party, our Poemapalooza for National Poetry Month, in this one about Auden about Icarus. Icarus has not yet left the building. He is still falling, ever falling, always falling, in the poems of many poets – like a Grecian urn, always circling. As if …
Poets remind us that we are china shards linked arm in arm
Mametz Wood For years afterwards the farmers found them – the wasted young, turning up under their plough blades as they tended the land back into itself. A chit of bone, the china plate of a shoulder blade, the relic of a finger, the blown and broken bird’s egg of …
Poets carry our hearts with them
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in i carry your heart with me(i carry it inmy heart)i am never without it(anywherei go you go,my dear; and whatever is doneby only me is your doing,my darling)i fearno fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i wantno world(for beautiful you are my …
Show compassion
“Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” -Henry Ward Beecher “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” -Albert Schweitzer When tragedy strikes, it is too easy to condemn the perpetrator and by so doing, extend that condemnation to his …
