Sunday Poetry: A Special Giveaway
Welcome back to Sunday Poetry, after my short hiatus.
Those of you who’ve been following along this past year know this blog began after I heard poet Billy Collins speak at Chautauqua Institution several years ago. I was so impressed that I checked out the Library of Congress site he began, Poetry 180, which was created for high school students. A poem a day to be pondered. What a terrific way to encourage a love of poetry.
I discovered other sources of poetry (all with permission of the poets, the only kind I’ll link to) on the web and decided it would be fun for us to explore a poem a week together. Not to analyze or dissect. I think that’s the very reason some of us (myself included) learned to dislike poetry in the first place. But to savor. My only question is what phrase or idea might you take away with you for the remainder of the week? Poetry as meditation.
Yesterday I had the delightful experience of hearing Mr. Collins again. Twice, in fact. Once in conversation with author/playwright Roger Rosenblatt at the Chautauqua Amphitheatre, the other as he read from his newest work, Horoscopes for the Dead.
Most delightful of all, after the reading, Mr. Collins signed copies, and now I have an autographed copy of Horoscopes for the Dead to give away.
Between now and December 31st, everybody who comments on any of my Sunday Poetry blogs will be eligible to win. That’s all you need to do. This giveaway is open to everyone, anywhere, and you may comment each week for more opportunities to win. Of course I reserve the right not to include comments that are inappropriate or irrelevant. I will also delete responses that are identical to any that came before. Just be original and tell us what you think about the poem of the day. Random.org will do the rest.
I’m happy to say that the title poem of the collection is available here, at the PEN American Center website. What line, word or thought will you carry with you this week? If you’d like to tell us where the poem took you? We’ll listen.
This reminds me that even though we complain about the problems of each day, we are still here to endure or enjoy them!
It made me think about the journey and all of life’s experiences that make us who we are. We should never be afraid to live, to step out of our comfort zone and enjoy the gift that we’ve been given.
My aunt’s favorite “flower” was the Queen Anne’s Lace. I always thought it was a weed! Not until I grew older did I realize the something that grows ‘wild’ isn’t necessarily a weed! Same goes for the people in your life, too.
Very nice insight, Pam.
I loved The Second Half of my Life. In the second half of MY live, I’m doing things I never thought I’d do – I always thought you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But I’m taking stained glass classes and found I’m actually learning something – and having fun at the same time! Happy birthday to your husband – and thank him for having one so we could all read this neat poem!
I took a stained glass class years ago and loved it. It’s an awful lot like quilting. So glad you liked the poem. I thought this one was special. Hold on to your hat for next week’s.
Loved the poem- its time I made some changes in my life to cook the Vanilla pudding !