Tag: National Poetry Month
Something on which to chew
(National Poetry Month, Day 30) We wrap up National Poetry Month with a tasty morsel: a favorite poem from middle school forensic competitions of days of yore. Peanut-Butter Sandwich by Shel Silverstein I’ll sing you a poem of a silly young king Who played with the world at the end of a string, But he only loved one single thing— And that was just … Read More Something on which to chew
On experiencing a small setback in recovery from her knee surgery
(National Poetry Month, Day 29) I first encountered John Milton’s “On His Blindness” when I was 16 and taking a British Literature course in high school. I got it, but I didn’t get it. I encountered it again when I was 23 and in graduate school. I got it, but I didn’t really have time to think about it. This year, it has popped … Read More On experiencing a small setback in recovery from her knee surgery
Good morning, a few hours early!
(National Poetry Month, Day 28) Good night, friends! Get a good rest, so that your day tomorrow may begin more pleasantly than Daniel’s begins, in this poem. Daniel at Breakfast by Phyllis McGinley his paper propped against the electric toaster (nicely adjusted to his morning use), Daniel at breakfast studies world disaster and sips his orange juice. the words dismay him. headlines shrilly chatter … Read More Good morning, a few hours early!
“JP2, we love you!”: a poetic chant for a poet
(National Poetry Month, Day 27) I am a member of the John Paul II generation. I was beyond excited when he visited our archdiocese when I was fifteen years old. Tens of thousands of others and I boarded buses from our parishes on a rainy Thursday morning and arrived at Giants stadium, where we waited for hours in the torrential rain to celebrate Mass … Read More “JP2, we love you!”: a poetic chant for a poet
Wait a second: Why are we doing this?
(National Poetry Month, Day 26) Today, let’s take a short intermission from reading poetry and instead think about poetry from a slight distance. I think that you’ll enjoy this article from the Huffington Post. In it, Pam Allyn explores why poetry is important.
A New Jersey poet
(National Poetry Month, Day 25) I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that when I hear “Joyce Kilmer,” the first thing that comes to mind is the Joyce Kilmer Service Area on the NJ Turnpike—because at this stop is the closest Roy Rogers to my home! However, Joyce Kilmer was famous in the first place for other reasons—perhaps most notably for his poem “Trees.” It’s short … Read More A New Jersey poet
‘Twas down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
(National Poetry Month, Day 24) In observance of today’s 98th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland, I present “Easter, 1916” by W.B. Yeats. I’ll let the poem speak for itself in this blog post, but I welcome discussion in the comments! Easter, 1916 by W.B. Yeats I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among … Read More ‘Twas down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
Magnanimous mercy
(National Poetry Month, Day 23) Today is the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and possibly also of his birth (in different years, of course!). Shakespeare’s sonnets are very well known. Large swaths of his plays are written in verse, too, leading to some powerful poetic pyrotechnics embedded in his plays of all types. Today, in honor of Shakespeare day and my sister’s jury duty … Read More Magnanimous mercy
What does your poem choice say about your view of the earth?
(National Poetry Month, Day 22) A special treat for Earth Day: 2 poems! Let’s take a look at two poems that explore the same ideas, but from decidedly different perspectives. The World Is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;— Little we see in Nature that … Read More What does your poem choice say about your view of the earth?
Willy Wonka didn’t say it first!
(National Poetry Month, Day 21) One of the most popular yearbook quotes (do they even make yearbooks any more?) in the 1990s, if I recall correctly, was “We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” Without exception, in the yearbooks I saw, it was attributed to Willy Wonka. (These were the days when the only cinematic Willy Wonka we knew was … Read More Willy Wonka didn’t say it first!
Hippity hoppin’
(National Poetry Month, Day 20) Lest we forget, song lyrics are poems, too! Here’s a fun poem for today. Hoppy Easter! “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins Here comes Peter Cottontail Hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppin’, Easter’s on its way! Bringing every girl and boy Baskets full of Easter joy Things to make your Easter Bright … Read More Hippity hoppin’
238 years ago today
(National Poetry Month, Day 19) Where were you on this day, 238 years ago? Yesterday, we read “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Today, we’ll commemorate the battle that took place on today’s date 238 years ago. As we read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn,” we can reflect on the legacy of the war that began with the battle in today’s Minute Man … Read More 238 years ago today
The Graceful Grammarian 