April showers bring . . . National Poetry Month!

It is indeed that time of year again.
Rejoice! Throw your hands in the air and do a little poetic dance! Tell you friends and family, and share a poem with them! Have a feast, or, at the very least, a poetry reading!
It's National Poetry Month.
This year's promo poster, designed by the Academy of American Poets, features T.S. Eliot's question from a portion of his "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—	40
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Do I dare	45
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

I love this poem!
This is one of my favorite verses:

For I have known them all already, known them all:—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,	50
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?

Read the entire poem here.
Do I dare disturb the universe?
Do you?

Celebrate Words!!

I carried my life, like a stone,

in a ragged pocket, but I

had a true weaving song, a sly

way with rhythm, a healing tone.

- Jay Wright

April is National Poetry Month. Celebrate by signing up for a daily dose of poetry throughout the month here.

Today, I celebrate with my favorite poem. What's yours? Post a comment and share.

The Waking by Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

The cruellest month

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain. T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland, 1922 April is the cruellest month because it can give you a beautiful, sun-warmed day and then the very next day offer a gray clad sky and a wind-chill that can rival the deepest of winter days. I think it is "cruel" because you are so ready for warmer weather, for bluer skies and lighter clothing, for open windows and outdoor walks. And you get tastes of these things. There are days so perfect in their Springness, that you think, "This is it. It's really here!" But then, a cold snap, a spring rain, a late snow. And it seems there may be one of those wonder days nestled into long stretches of rainy days, and not just rain, but downpour grade stuff. You've heard the poem . . . "April showers bring May flowers." It's true. Without all the rain, there would be less vibrant color, and less true appreciation when those endless sunny days begin to arrive. But those things make it no less cruel. Today, I was tired, and not feeling too well. This is the result of spending the entire day outside yesterday on one of those cruel April days. The boys are all sniffles and coughs too, as they generally are this time of year. Tomorrow is another day outdoors, and the forecast says sunny but cold. Today was uneventful, if living this wonderful life -- breathing, every moment a gift, each next moment holding every possibility, -- could be considered uneventful. Daniel tooled around school in his walker today, visiting classrooms. It is so funny to see him walking the halls, "talking" to the kids. Josiah drew a picture today of himself and Jesus. He was so happy about it, and showed it to everyone. Isaac made his own comic strip. It was really quite funny, and he is a great artist. He has been reading a book that we took out from the library on art. It's Thursday, so we had family dinner. We were joined by Doug and Denise, Christian and Edine. Good times. Good company. And great food. Grandpa, as always, put on a spread. And he made a gorgeous apple pie among other delectable desserts for the occasion. The man is the best chef/baker I know. Bless him a million times. Afterward, home and baths and sleep. And I will rest too, now. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Ps. 4:8)