Today we're two weeks into National Poetry Month and we've got Poems In Our Pockets. This just means that we are focusing on short poems. Short, of course, is relative but if the poems are short enough, you can memorize them, recite them, print them out and leave copies in the produce section of the grocery store (or almost wherever strikes your fancy). You can read more about Poem In Your Pocket Day here.
I wish for you a small, portable truth you can take
anywhere—no foreign adaptors needed,
no translation required and nothing lost in it.
Once, looking at a map, my daughter said,
A river is a line the world drew for us. I wish for you
a truth that stays true across any line drawn
by the world or its people, a truth that tells you
wherever you arrive, you are welcome.
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Smith, Maggie. "A Truth That Tells You". Maggie Smith wrote this specially for Poem in Your Pocket Day in 2019.
You can read more about the poet here.
You can read more about Nelson Minar and his map of every river in the 48 contiguous states here.
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Be sure to check in with Kym, Kat, Sarah, and Vera (there is a linkup below) for more poetry today, and join us next Thursday for more poems in celebration of National Poetry Month. (And remember that any time is good for poetry, not just Thursdays in April!)
Well... this poem is just brilliant (and so appropriate for these times... sigh) Yes, may we all be welcome whenever we arrive!
ReplyDeleteLike Kat, I think this is a very appropriate poem for the current situation -- we could all use more universal truths!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect poem, Bonny. (I love Maggie Smith . . . ) That one is going directly into my pocket today! XO
ReplyDeleteWonderful! And yes, so appropriate for today.
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonny, what a perfect poem for these times, when truth is constantly denied and vilified. I have some constant truths, and I hold them dear to my heart, especially the one about everyone being welcome if they mean no harm.
ReplyDelete"A line the world drew". I never liked the way the US is divided up into states. When I was little I had a puzzle that you put together of the USA and I didn't like all those straight lines out west. It seemed wrong that men drew lines where there were none.
ReplyDeleteNatural boundaries (mountains, rivers) might make more sense!
DeleteOh I love her writings, I have not read this poem and thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteA perfect poem for the present!
ReplyDeleteon Bonny, printing this one. I know there are still truths. and whole communities who share the welcome. thank you for being part of that for me.
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