NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

[minoanmiss]

I look forward to this every year!

For people who met me since 2018, here is a link to April 2018 where I almost succeeded in posting an illustrated poem every single day https://minoanmiss.dreamwidth.org/2018/04/. I'm sure as heck not able to do that this year, but what I CAN do is send poems out for Poem In Your Pocket Day, Thursday April 28 Friday April 29 this year -- see next post.

Here's a poem for today:



I think that I shall never see
a billboard lovely as a tree.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I'll never see a tree at all.

-Ogden Nash

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Gotta love Ogden Nash.

[dine]

I do love that - and most of his stuff, generally. also, seeing what people post is so cool

[sabotabby]

Oh, that is a good poem.

[amaebi]

Is it your impression, as it is mine, that over the past decade or so poems are getting more and wider public attention in the US? Maybe it's because of their snacky nature.

During Chun Woo's spring break recently we discussed a particular Phenomenon we had both noticed on the route, and I made a tiny poem about it. As I gave it to him, I give it to you:

Your flag is so huge the wind
leaves it furled. What
is it covering?

[minoanmiss]

Poets.org would be very happy to hear about poetry gaining in prominence. :) They have been deliverately working for it for the last couple of decades, tacking advantage of that snackiness.

(as long as no one brings up The Rape of the Lock)

[amaebi]

So I take it that you don't share my impression. :/ I certainly spent a very long time among economists, then techies, who aren't often poetry readers. And then mainline pastors, who are wild for Mary Oliver but seldom seem to know anyone else.

Anyway, have another short poem, this one a better one:

BRIGHT SIDE

the silver lining
in the iron maiden
two inches square
pierced by the spikes
that cut the heart

[med_cat]

Here's a short one in return :p

Lives of great men point a moral:
We should prosper in our crimes,
And, retiring, wreathed with laurel,
Sell our memoirs to The Times.

:P

(guess the author ;))

[minoanmiss]

hee, that's hilarious. Piet Hein?

[med_cat]

Hehe, no, although it is rather reminiscent of his work, isn't it? ;)

Phyllis McGinley

[rushthatspeaks]

That's great.

I don't know who wrote this one, but I've loved it for many years:

The rain it raineth all around
On both the just and unjust fella
But more on just than on unjust
The unjust hath the just's umbrella

... this has actually been a useful reminder to me at some points in my life.

[med_cat]

Yep, a classic, that one, and Zakhoder translated it into Russian ;)

It's by one Charles Bowen:


Charles Bowen > Quotes > Quotable Quote
“The rain it raineth on the just
And also on the unjust fella;
But chiefly on the just, because
The unjust hath the just’s umbrella.”

― Charles Bowen

[rushthatspeaks]

Oh, neat! I literally got that one from the oral tradition, so I wasn't certain it even had a known author. Thanks!

[med_cat]

My pleasure! I came upon the original English version by chance, years ago :)

A couple more? ;)

[med_cat]

Ah yes, I wrote the Purple Cow--
I'm sorry now I wrote it!
But I will tell you anyhow--
I'll kill you if you quote it!
....

When you're ready to swear you're his,
Shivering and sighing,
And he vows his passion is
Infinite, undying,
Lady, take a note of this:
One of you is lying.

:P

[lunabee34]

Ogden Nash always amuses me.

[adore]

Ogden Nash is always such a delight!