Is there a poem which describes who you are, or how you think?
Today is Poem in your pocket day. I first read of this on the blog of Annette Rochelle Aben. She tells us that as part of national poetry month today would be earmarked as a day in which we share a poem, or to quote her directly, “the premise behind this day was to give people the opportunity to share a bit of themselves with others using poetry as the vehicle.”
I thought it was a great idea. So I spent a bit of time wondering what poem would I share? I’ve written one or two myself but they are a little deep and today I do not feel deep; frivolous, happy, content, mischievous perhaps but not deep. So many poems took my fancy, but the premise was to share a bit of myself through poetry, so some didn’t fit the bill. In the end one jumped out. It is a poem that is not only suitable for the grown up person I’ve become, but the young girl I have always been.
I Meant To Do My Work Today
by Richard LeGallienne
I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand,
So what could I do but laugh and go?
Yes that just about sums me up. Some would say I’ve spent my days time wasting, I would say I spent them living.
I’d love to know if you have a poem which speaks of the person you are? Thanks to Annette Rochelle Aben for the prompt.
My thoughts on a page. 
That’s a perfect poem… and a wonderful way to live 🙂
Yes it’s not for everyone and many of my friends are polar opposites, but it is fun.
It works for me 🙂
Yup, this would be ME! ❤ Thank you for spreading the words.
Thanks for the inspiration. Your own poem was beautiful.
❤
That’s a lovely poem and what a great description for you! 🙂
Thanks. Now you’ll have to think of one for yourself.
I’m just enjoying reading them today. It’s a wonderful idea. 🙂
The poem…Erosion. “It took the sea a thousand years, a thousand years to trace…the granite features of its walls …in crap and scarp and base. It took the sea an hour one night…an hour of storm to place…the granite features of this wall…upon a woman’s face.”
Oh my goodness. I never heard that poem before. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
In high school I had to memorize a poem. That was the one I chose as I had been born and raised in a fishing village. I love the transition in it, though the tale is a sad one.
I always had a liking for Philip Larkin because of his wry observation and touch of melancholy. This Be The Verse was probably the first poem I memorised (likely because it contains the F word, which appeals to teenagers). But the poem of his that reflects me would be Next, Please.
Here it is for those who like reading comments. Good choice. Isn’t it interesting how poetry can show our differences
Next, Please by Philip Larkin
Always too eager for the future, we
Pick up bad habits of expectancy.
Something is always approaching; every day
Till then we say,
Watching from a bluff the tiny, clear
Sparkling armada of promises draw near.
How slow they are! And how much time they waste,
Refusing to make haste!
Yet still they leave us holding wretched stalks
Of disappointment, for, though nothing balks
Each big approach, leaning with brasswork prinked,
Each rope distinct,
Flagged, and the figurehead wit golden tits
Arching our way, it never anchors; it’s
No sooner present than it turns to past.
Right to the last
We think each one will heave to and unload
All good into our lives, all we are owed
For waiting so devoutly and so long.
But we are wrong:
Only one ship is seeking us, a black-
Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her back
A huge and birdless silence. In her wake
No waters breed or break.
I don’t have a poem handy or that I’m thinking of Tric. But I absolutely love and adore YOURS! Well chosen!
A Void
There was some consolation today
Sounds of my steps along the melting snow paths
Sunlight on a white birch
Biting air under skies so very blue
A great aching for the Unknown
Feeling one with my Beloved
~Michele Marie
love this, tric. one of my favorite phrases is ‘the heart has its reasons, whereof reason knows nothing.’ it was written in french and in the book, ‘a wrinkle in time.’
Great idea and lovely choice, Tric.
So many to choose from but I alway come back to W.B.Yeats’and especially these words from Aodh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven:
“Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
I’ve never been into poetry, but I feel like if I had one that described me or my life, it would be a LImerick that eventually got put to music. Yes?
That is a great idea. I couldn’t think of any poems to match my personality, though. I don’t think I’m the sort of person to inspire high poetry. I did trawl through my collection of limericks, but couldn’t find anything suitable there either.
It occurred to me that I should try and write one about myself, but the only things I could think of to rhyme with Bun (Boon) were loon, goon and baboon, which didn’t seem very promising.
Great concept. I don’t think I’ve ever read a poem which properly sums me up. 🙂
Maybe a song does it better?
I’m still looking, but maybe!
The song I most identify with is not at all in the same vein as this poem. No idea why they are so different.
That’s interesting.. Maybe music speaks differently to you than poetry.