Thursday, April 26, 2012

Verse for the best

April is National Poetry Month. I did not know this.

And today is Poem in your Pocket Day. Which I also did not know. But I fully support the concept.

Really—no purchase necessary. Write, download, type, draw a poem on a piece of paper. Put it in your pocket. Then share with colleagues, friends, family, people in the supermarket checkout line, etc.

This is apparently a very Big Event in Charlottesville, Virginia. Which is to be expected from the home of Mr. Jefferson's Academic Institution. Go, Wahoos!

I realize I’m getting this to you on the day, but not to worry—it doesn’t take but a minute to recall, research, write or ask someone for a much-loved poem. You can even post one to your FaceBook page.

Anything that gets people talking or thinking about verse.

Here’s one of my very most all-time favorites, from e.e. cummings:


plato told

him:he couldn't

believe it(jesus

told him;he

wouldn't believe
it)lao

tsze

certainly told
him,and general
(yes

mam)

sherman;
and even
(believe it
or

not)you

told him:i told
him;we told him
(he didn't believe it,no

sir)it took

a nipponized bit of
the old sixth

avenue

el;in the top of his head:to tell

him

What’s yours?

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