April is National Poetry Month, and it’s a wonderful excuse to celebrate a genre that gets overlooked too often. And my favorite way to celebrate it is a poem from my favorite poet, Mary Oliver. Here’s one from a collection I just finished last month, Swan. I Worried by Mary Oliver I worried a lot. Will… Continue reading National Poetry Month 2016
Category: poetry
National Poetry Month
Isn’t the month of April lovely? Not only is it the month where we shed off winter completely and start to smell new life in the air, it’s also National Poetry Month. Springtime and poetry go so well together, don’t you think? One of the very best poets to help us appreciate the splendor of… Continue reading National Poetry Month
Bouquet of Red Flags by Taylor Mali
“A poem is the perfect place to celebrate imperfection and exult in the ways you fall short of being the person you want to be.” – Taylor Mali Bouquet of Red Flags is Taylor Mali’s third collection of poetry, and I bought it as soon as it came out at the end of last year.… Continue reading Bouquet of Red Flags by Taylor Mali
Teaser Tuesday
Reading Myself To Sleep Billy Collins The house is all in darkness except for this corner bedroom where the lighthouse of a table lamp is guiding my eyes through the narrow channels of print, and the only movement in the night is the slight swirl of curtains, the easy lift and fall of my breathing,… Continue reading Teaser Tuesday
Teaser Tuesday
I’m reading a non-fiction book right that’s good, but a little uninspiring for a Teaser Tuesday post. So instead I’m going to post a teaser from a poem in the poetry book I’m currently reading now – Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins. This is the best – throwing off the light covers, feet on the… Continue reading Teaser Tuesday
77 Love Sonnets by Garrison Keillor
During April, in honor of National Poetry Month, I read 77 Love Sonnets by Garrison Keillor. (Here’s a link to purchase this collection at an Indie Bookstore.) A modern collection of sonnets is, unfortunately, rather hard to come across. I was delighted last year to find out that Garrison Keillor was publishing a collection of… Continue reading 77 Love Sonnets by Garrison Keillor
National Poetry Month
Happy National Poetry Month! Last year I tried to celebrate by reading a poem a day for the entire month. I think I made it about 10 days before I forgot. I think I’ll try again this year. Maybe I should put a collection of poetry by my toothbrush or something so I remember to… Continue reading National Poetry Month
Poetry Sunday
“Undelivered Mail” by Rhina P. Espaillat from Playing at Stillness Dear Daughter, Your father and I wish to commend you on the wisdom of your choices and the flawless conduct of your life Dear Poet! Where is the full-length manuscript you promised us? Your check is waiting The presses are ready and the bookstores are… Continue reading Poetry Sunday
Poetry Sunday
Tin Ear by Peter Schmitt from Country Airport We stood at attention as she moved with a kind of Groucho shuffle down our line, her trained music teacher’s ear passing by our ten- and eleven-year-old mouths open to some song now forgotten. And as she held her momentary pause in front of me, I peered… Continue reading Poetry Sunday
Poetry Sunday
“THANKS, ROBERT FROST” David Ray, from Music of Time: Selected and New Poems Do you have hope for the future? someone asked Robert Frost, toward the end. Yes, and even for the past, he replied, that it will turn out to have been all right for what it was, something we can accept, mistakes made… Continue reading Poetry Sunday
Poetry Sunday
Welcome Morning By Anne Sexton There is joy in all: in the hair I brush each morning, in the Cannon towel, newly washed, that I rub my body with each morning, in the chapel of eggs I cook each morning, in the outcry from the kettle that heats my coffee each morning, in the spoon… Continue reading Poetry Sunday