Human FamilyBY MAYA ANGELOUI note the obvious differencesin the human family.Some of us are serious,some thrive on comedy.Some declare their lives are livedas true profundity,and others claim they really livethe real reality.The variety of our skin tonescan confuse, bemuse, delight,brown and pink and beige and purple,tan and blue and white.I’ve sailed upon the seven seasandContinue reading “Human family”
Category Archives: poem of the week
Good timber
Good TimberBy Douglas MallochThe tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light,But stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain,Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing.The man who never had to toil To gain and farm his patch ofContinue reading “Good timber”
If mama could see
if mama / could see]BY LUCILLE CLIFTONif mamacould seeshe would see lucy sprawling limbs of lucydecorating thebacks of chairslucy hairholding the mirrors up that reflect odd aspects of lucy.if mamacould hearshe would hearlucysong rolled in thecorners like lintexotic webs of lucysighslong lucy spiders explaining to obscure gods.if mamacould talkshe would talkgood girl good girl goodContinue reading “If mama could see”
A tear and a smile
A tear and a smileBY KHALIL GIBRANI would not exchange the sorrows of my heartFor the joys of the multitude.And I would not have the tears that sadness makesTo flow from my every part turn into laughter.I would that my life remain a tear and a smile.A tear to purify my heart and give meContinue reading “A tear and a smile”
Poems of solitary delight
Poems Of Solitary DelightsBY TACHIBANA AKEMIWhat a delight it isWhen on the bamboo mattingIn my grass-thatched hut,All on my own,I make myself at ease.What a delight it isWhen, skimming through the pagesOf a book, I discoverA man written thereWho is just like me.What a delight it isWhen everyone admitsIt’s a very difficult book,And I understandContinue reading “Poems of solitary delight”
Both sides now
Both sides nowBY JONI MITCHELRows and floes of angel hairAnd ice cream castles in the airAnd feather canyons everywhereI’ve looked at clouds that wayBut now they only block the sunThey rain and snow on everyoneSo many things I would have doneBut clouds got in my wayI’ve looked at clouds from both sides nowFrom up andContinue reading “Both sides now”
Life doesn’t frighten me
Life doesn’t frighten meBY MAYA ANGELOU Shadows on the wallNoises down the hallLife doesn’t frighten me at allBad dogs barking loudBig ghosts in a cloudLife doesn’t frighten me at allMean old Mother GooseLions on the looseThey don’t frighten me at allDragons breathing flameOn my counterpaneThat doesn’t frighten me at all.I go booMake them shooI makeContinue reading “Life doesn’t frighten me”
Since feeling is first
Since feeling is firstBY E.E. CUMMINGSsince feeling is firstwho pays any attentionto the syntax of thingswill never wholly kiss you;wholly to be a foolwhile Spring is in the worldmy blood approves,and kisses are a better fatethan wisdomlady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry– the best gesture of my brain is less thanyour eyelids’ flutterContinue reading “Since feeling is first”
Changing everything
Changing everythingBY JANE HIRSHFIELDI was walking againin the woods,a yellow lightwas sifting all I saw.Willfully,with a cold heart,I took a stick,lifted it to the opposite sideof the path.There, I said to myself,that’s done now.Brushing one hand against the other,to clean themof the tiny fragments of bark.
Our revels are now ended
Our revels now are ended’BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREOur revels now are ended. These our actors,As I foretold you, were all spirits andAre melted into air, into thin air;And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,The cloud-capped tow’rs, the gorgeous palaces,The solemn temples, the great globe itself,Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,And, like this insubstantial pageantContinue reading “Our revels are now ended”
