Occasionally I post some original poetry. I don’t write as much poetry as I once did, but I’m interested enough to subscribe to a “Poem of the Day” from The Poetry Foundation. I’ll admit I’m something of a purist; poetry to me should rhyme, and a lot of what I see today is the freest of free verse. I have no idea why some of it is considered worthy of dissemination.
But once in a while I see something that impresses me. Here are two recent examples, courtesy of The Writer’s Almanac, to which I also subscribe.
A classic in rhyme from Emily Dickinson (May 22):
Tell all the truth but tell it slant –
Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
(http://writersalmanac.org/episodes/20160522/)
And a clever example of free verse by Ronald Wallace (May 20):
Blessings
occur.
Some days I find myself
putting my foot in
the same stream twice;
leading a horse to water
and making him drink.
I have a clue.
I can see the forest
for the trees.
All around me people
are making silk purses
out of sows’ ears,
getting blood from turnips,
building Rome in a day.
There’s a business
like show business.
There’s something new
under the sun.
Some days misery
no longer loves company;
it puts itself out of its.
There’s rest for the weary.
There’s turning back.
There are guarantees.
I can be serious.
I can mean that.
You can quite
put your finger on it.
Some days I know
I am long for this world.
I can go home again.
And when I go
I can
take it with me.
(http://writersalmanac.org/episodes/20160520/)
National broadcasts of The Writer’s Almanac are supported by The Poetry Foundation.