Poem In Your Pocket Day

*disclaimer–apparently this post was so anxious to get out and about it momentarily escaped before it received its final polish, which included the insertion of poetical bling of links, imagery, and spell check (the editor of this blog remains astounded that faithful followers nevertheless endured the raw form of its content and left friendly commentary anyways–gosh, I’m humbled at your polite endurance)

How To Eat a Poem
by Eve Merriam

Don’t be polite.

Bite in.

Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that

may run down your chin.

It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.

image: u.arizona.edu

Today culminates an entire month of celebrating poetry. I hope you have found some new poetry and poets to reflect upon. I also hope you aren’t any verse for wear for enduring 30 days of poems.

Today I hand out scrolls of selected poems to students for them to carry about. Some keep them and others toss them to the floor. I can’t force poetry on my students, though I do try my best to enlighten them of its nuances. If anything, I hope they don’t fear, loathe, or dislike poetry after experiencing it in my classroom. Maybe they will embrace how poetry is just another way for our spirit to sing life’s song.

Here’s a link to PIYPD and a fun video:

Blue Skies,

Cricket