I teach literature classes to middle and high school students, and they often ask why they should care about poetry. There are many reasons, but my short cut answer to them is that there are times when regular language just isn’t enough to convey the emotions or significance of the moment. Sometimes these are really … More Hope is the thing with feathers
In honor of the Leonids, which are supposed to be beautiful this weekend: A Loose Mountain by Robert Frost (Telescopic) Did you stay up last night (the Magi did) To see the star shower known as Leonid That once a year by hand or apparatus Is so mysteriously pelted at us? It is but fiery … More Poetry for a Night of Falling Stars
My son and I saw the 9/11 memorial when we visited New York City this summer, and it is quite a lovely and striking monument. Today can be a difficult day for people. It can be a time for grieving. But I hope it is a day of grieving with love instead of hate, … More A Poem for Susan
In North Carolina, today is the first official day of summer, the months I think of as the season of exuberance, based on Yoko Ono’s poem, “Season of Glass.” SEASON OF GLASS spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence winter passes … More Welcome to the Season of Exuberance
My last blog post was about comedy, but this one is about tragedy. Because as much as I’m committed to bliss, that doesn’t mean ignoring the pain and sadness related to events that produce international grieving. I’m referring, of course, to the May 22nd suicide bombing of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena, England. … More What Do We Tell Our Children?
This wonderful month of April is coming to an end, and so is National Poetry Month and the official Week of Action follow-up to April 22nd’s March For Science. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for those of us who would like to see our governmental policies based on science instead of….well, let’s just say … More Celebrating Women as the Original Scientists
Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day! If you aren’t familiar with this annual event, it is one of the celebrations of poetry organized by the Academy of American Poets as part of National Poetry Month. The concept is simple enough for anyone to participate, even if you haven’t been planning for this for days as … More Happy Poem In Your Pocket Day!
As if we didn’t have enough great things going on in April, it is also the birth month for William Shakespeare. So how should we honor the man generally considered the greatest author of the English language? Well, how about a marathon reading of all 154 of all of Shakespeare’s (known) sonnets? That’s how we … More Sonnets for Shakespeare
Not only is April host to Earth Day, but it also National Poetry Month here in the US. Those two events intersected yesterday in a program that Academy of American Poets Chancellor Jane Hirshfield developed called “Poets for Science.” Hirshfield is one of the most accomplished contemporary American poets, and environmental awareness has long been … More Poets for Science
Happy St. Patricks Day! I like to celebrate every holiday, so I’ve got my plans for making bangers and mash for my family this evening. But I thought I would start the day’s celebrations with a lovely poem of blessing by a wonderful Irish poet and philosopher, John O’Donahue. He writes a lot about how … More An Irish Poem of Blessing
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