Thursday, April 30, 2009

Poem In Your Pocket Day !

FOR SIX YEARS, New York City
has proclaimed April 30 as
" Poem In Your Pocket Day".
Last year the American Academy of Poets
picked up on this, and now, for the
second year in a row, in honor of
National Poetry Month, continues
this celebration.
x
The idea is to choose a poem you really
like, write it down, print it, then perhaps
tuck it into your pocket, or maybe just
clutch it. And share it with friends and
family..yes, stop them in their tracks and
recite a poem! Change the world! If that
idea can make it here, it can make it
anywhere.
x
What to choose? Aha! I know, I'll slip
one of my own past them...
x
x
xxxxxxxxxxBUDDHA'S WAY
X
I said to my soul be still,
and wait without hope.
x
Be as the seed that knows
the path of its being,
never wishing to be
more than a rose.
x
Wake up my soul, I said,
sleep no more in fruitless thoughts.
I happily refuse
the candy of hope
to sweeten my course.
x
The light itself will burnish me.
x
x
from TWO GHOSTS/ poems


14 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

Poem in Your Pocket Day is a WON-derful conception! And this one you've chosen is perfect. I love the last line.

Lyn said...

Willow-
Thank you..I'm sallying forth, poem in pocket, ready to conquer the world!!

Jeane Myers said...

a poem in the pocket EVERYDAY seems even better! this poem digs to the heart....

Unknown said...

Hi Lyn,

I hope you encounter plenty of people today with a poem in their pocket!

As for not wanting to be more than a rose - that seems a pretty good life to settle for!

Lyn said...

Jeane-
Thanks for that..and I definitely agree with everyday!!
A revolution!

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick-
Yes, I wonder how many NYers are in on that?
I think that's it..a rose, but of course, the best rose possible!

Unknown said...

Yes, the last line is definitely the best.

Lyn said...

Hi Gaston-
Thank you- I appreciate that..
a line that someone likes? I'll take that!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

'Be as the seed that knows the path of its being,' I like this - it reminds me of the sayings 'Know thyself' and 'To thine own self be true.'

I love the idea of a poem in the pocket! I think I'll do this tomorrow - now which poem shall I choose ...

Lyn said...

Hi Raph-
That's exactly what it is..
knowing who you are..
I'm sure you'll pick a good one..
a fun goal!

A Cuban In London said...

Lovely idea. And beautiful poem, indeed. Unknown to me I posted a poem on the last day of April. I wish I had this information before :-)! Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Lyn said...

Greetings to A Cuban-
Thank you..I think it would be OK to extend this custom to the
1st of May!!

Dominic Rivron said...

"Be as the seed that knows...
never wishing to be
more than a rose."

Great advice. I seem to remember Thomas Merton once saying something to the effect that a tree has the great advantage that all it wants to be is a tree.

Wish I'd read this before April 30th!

Lyn said...

Hi Dominic-
Thanks so much...
Too bad we don't know early on who we are. Would save a lot of struggling!

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