Today is National Poetry Day (#NationalPoetryDay) – which began in 1994 by this British gent: William Sieghart. Mr. Sieghart believes that poetry can change our lives. He’s quite serious. For examples, he explains that poetry can help us feel what others feel – a universal, international connective language that crosses all barriers and helps us relate to one another as humans articulating such emotions as grief, joy, pain and love.
“you have to understand / no one puts their children in a boat / unless the water is safer than land”. These lines are from poet Warsan Shire and make the point that anyone can relate to how this parent must feel. Poetry is powerful – for it can express our most private emotions, comfort when we feel no one could feel as we do, and can make you feel alive.
We each shared with you today one of our favorite poems. What is your favorite poem? Do you feel poetry can change lives? Has there been a poem that has changed you?
Mr. Sieghart believes that poetry
Cindi’s poem ….
THE OAK , by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Live thy life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;
Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed,
Soberer hued
Gold again.
All his leaves
Fall’n at length,
Look, he stands,
Trunk and bough,
Naked strength.
Chelsea’s poem …
floral image :: saipua, brooklyn nyc
Kathryn’s poem …
Caged Bird, by Maya Angelou
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Amy’s poem …
