Poetry Friday: "The Poet" by Jane Hirshfield

On the eve of the last day of National Poetry Month, I give you this gem from the marvelous poet Jane Hirshfield: 

The Poet 

by Jane Hirshfield

She is working now, in a room
not unlike this one,
the one where I write, or you read.
Her table is covered with paper.
The light of the lamp would be
tempered by a shade, where the bulb's
single harshness might dissolve,
but it is not; she has taken it off.

(Read the rest here, at The Atlantic.) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jone Rush MacCulloch has the round-up this week. 

(Photo thanks to Pixabay and congerdesign.) 

Poetry Friday: It's National Poetry Month and I've got the Poetry Month Blues

It happens every year. April is a busy time for me. The reasons vary, but the fact remains the same. I never ever tackle National Poetry Month with the verve I intend and desire. (Past lamentation posts here.) 

Case in point: four years ago, I wrote this poem near the end of NPM. In keeping with today's theme of "I'm too busy, I'm too busy!" I haven't even written a new poem about National Poetry Month. I'm simply re-running this old one.  🙂

But, as the poem declares, that's okay. Every week is Poetry Week (well, except last week, when I was too busy to post. Arrgh!) 

Enough. The past is the past. Onward! 

Happy National Poetry Month! And for more about what's happening with KidLit bloggers everywhere, check out Jama Rattigan's comprehensive post. Thanks, Jama! 

Poetry Month Blues 

Karen Edmisten 

Another April — Poetry Month! —

slipping through my fingers.

Failed plans, lack of sharing ...

Oh, the guilt in me lingers.

"Next year will be different!"

I shout out with conviction.

Really? Inner Me sneers,

that's a doubtful prediction. 

Who knows? Should I worry?

I think not, you see. 

Every Friday's poetry day.

That's just Weekly Me.

~~~~~~~~~~

Janice has the roundup this week at Salt City Verse.