Poetry

A Dose of Easter Beauty

by

Easter

by Joyce Kilmer

The air is like a butterfly
With frail blue wings.
The happy earth looks at the sky
And sings.

Easter Day

by Oscar Wilde

The silver trumpets rang across the Dome:
The people knelt upon the ground with awe:
And borne upon the necks of men I saw,
Like some great God, the Holy Lord of Rome.
Priest-like, he wore a robe more white than foam,
And, king-like, swathed himself in royal red,
Three crowns of gold rose high upon his head:
In splendour and in light the Pope passed home.
My heart stole back across wide wastes of years
To One who wandered by a lonely sea,
And sought in vain for any place of rest:
‘Foxes have holes, and every bird its nest.
I, only I, must wander wearily,
And bruise my feet, and drink wine salt with tears.’

Birthday Blessings and Lilacs

by

Today is my birthday so I hope you will excuse me if I take a few minutes to revel in my blessings. Some years my birthday actually falls on the same day as Mother’s Day. Minimally, both big days are always around the same time each year. It’s a double whammy of sweet gifts and well-wishes. Today, my youngest son’s classroom had a special event for Mother’s Day but it felt like one big birthday present. We did a little gardening, created some art, and were treated to a musical show. I was even interviewed (by my son!). He was sweet enough to whisper to his teacher about my birthday whereupon the entire crowd sang the Happy Birthday song to me. What a considerate sweetie and what a nice crowd!

Here we are with our gardening projects: a planter with sunflower seeds, an impatiens plant we put in a pot he decorated and some thyme we also planted together. You can’t see it but there’s also a clay project in the shape of Nathaniel’s imaginary friend “Rockguy”.

Here are my gifts that include a card he made and a poem. I love that Nathaniel’s teacher emphasizes poetry to the kids.

One of the benefits of a May birthday where I live is the gorgeous weather. This year our garden is already growing strong thanks to my husband, G, who built three raised garden beds last year. Here’s a peak.

Read more

Dose of Beauty – Solitude

by

“Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone….” 

The poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (below in its entirety) is a powerful exploration of an undeniable reality of human nature. There is a natural desire to seek out that which exudes happiness and cheer and to avoid pain and darkness. It extends to our tendency to gravitate toward other people who are joyful and happy and full of positive energy. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I think it is healthy to surround ourselves with people who are positive and encouraging and exhibit love, joy and peace. No one wants to be around those who are constantly negative, cynical, sarcastic and depressing. So in one sense, this poem is a clue to the reality that others are attracted to us if we endeavor to be cheerful and positive rather than negative and gloomy.

But understanding this truth of human nature also informs us we should not ignore those around us who are hurting. Even though our natural tendency is to seek out joy and happiness and people who exude those things, the reality is we should cultivate within ourselves a desire to help others in their time of need. We all go through difficult times and need help from others who are in a stronger place in their lives – people who can reach out to us and draw us out of depression, grief or other pains.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox emphasizes the uncaring world by exploring not only how we humans often flee from those in pain, but how the earth itself is indifferent to human suffering:

Read more

A Walk in the Changing Scarf of Mist

by
lamp and road - paleospirit.com

The snow came.

Later, when the air warmed, it melted the snow, turning it into a thick mist that blanketed the landscape. Breathing in the saturated air I noticed how the journey of thoughts can be very different on a foggy day. Not sad, merely reflective.

lamp and road - paleospirit.com

Pearl Fog

by Carl Sandburg

Open the door now.
Go roll up the collar of your coat
To walk in the changing scarf of mist.

Tell your sins here to the pearl fog
And know for once a deepening night
Strange as the half-meanings
Alurk in a wise woman’s mousey eyes.

Yes, tell your sins
And know how careless a pearl fog is
Of the laws you have broken.

bench - paleospirit.com

Read more

Dose of Beauty: November 10, 2011

by
cows in autumn

Autumn By HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain, With banners, by great gales incessant fanned, Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand, And stately oxen harnessed to thy wain! Thou standest, like imperial Charlemagne, Upon thy bridge of gold; thy royal hand Outstretched with benedictions o’er the land, Blessing the farms through … Read more

The Love of Poetry in First Grade

by
poetry in first grade
the love of poetry
Sweet Pea enjoys his after-school tea time and a poem.

A love of poetry is developed at a young age. Have you ever noticed most of the time when someone references a poem it is one they learned in school?  Sitting down and reading a book of poetry just for the joy of it is not something many of us do on a regular basis. That makes it all the more important for teachers and parents to not only expose children to good poetry but to encourage an appreciation of the art form. What better time to do that than in early childhood education?

I was reminded today of the importance of teaching children to appreciate poetry when I participated in Sweet Pea’s first grade “Fall Centers”. It was a morning of art and crafts and, happily for me, poetry. I was one of three moms who volunteered to help out with the Fall Centers by tending one of the stations. Having manned craft stations in the past I was excited to find there was a poetry center so I put dibs on it.  The simple fall poem was posted where the kids could see it and they were also given a piece of paper with the poem to decorate and take home. We read the poem together, learned some sign language and motions to go along with it, then recited the poem and acted it out together.

Here is the very simple poem:

Read more