Tomorrow is Poem in Your Pocket Day.
I think more of us are into poetry than we might realize. Many of those short sayings that get passed around on social media are actually poems or portions of poems.
A perfect example of this is one of my favorite poems by William Butler Yeats.
Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W.B. Yeats
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
That last line is very recognizable from modern culture, but Yeats published the poem in 1899.
My son’s school is participating in Poem in Your Pocket Day. Every student is writing down a poem – an original poem or one from their favorite poet – on a piece of paper and will carry it around during the school day. At various points during the day, the principal will announce over the loudspeaker that it is time to switch poems.
Doesn’t that sound like fun?
It’s a little bit like freeze tag with poetry!
Imagine if you were at work or in the bank or grocery store and could switch poems with someone. Talk about a fun way to connect! We could learn so much about people that way.
My kids have been writing amazing poems in school, but they did not want to share them with you. I begged, I pleaded. I considered bribery.
They said, “Mom! You’re embarrassing us.”
It won’t be the last time, kids!
Then one of my children said, “Fine! Here’s a poem…”
And with a twinkle in their eye and a smirk on their face began to recite:
“Roses are red.
My feet are tickly
Let me just say…
That escalated quickly!”
Uh. Not what I had in mind, but I love how this child can rhyme on the fly!
I thought a poem of introspection would be more appropriate.
The original poem I am posting today was not written by me. This poem was written by my mom in 1999 and was shared during her funeral service in 2004.
I do not know what prompted her to write this poem. The first time I recall reading it was after she died. It is clearly about some sort of adversity she faced and her struggle to rely on her religious faith to see her through a difficult time.
There is something incredibly eerie about finding a poem from a deceased person titled “I Have Something to Say.” If anyone could speak from the grave, it would be my mother!
On a lighter note, my son has selected a classic poem from his favorite poet, Shel Silverstein, to take to school.
Do you remember this poem?
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too. by Shel Silverstein
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too
Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
“Hooray!”
“What fun!”
“It’s time we flew!”
Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.
Ickle was captain, and Pickle was crew
And Tickle served coffee and mulligan stew
As higher
And higher
And higher they flew,
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Over the sun and beyond the blue.
“Hold on!”
“Stay in!”
“I hope we do!”
Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle too
Never returned to the world they knew,
And nobody
Knows what’s
Happened to
Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.
I can’t tell you how many conversations we have had about what happened to Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too! I remain hopeful about their fate.
My son has known about Poem in Your Pocket Day for a couple of weeks. He has been reading poetry every night for the last seven days in order to decide which poem to take to school. He’s really into it and I’m so happy he gets to have this experience at school. I can’t wait to hear all about his day!
If you’d like more ideas on how you can participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day, you can visit Poets.org.
P.S. Shel Silverstein books make great gifts! We have A Light in the Attic
If you have an original poem or a favorite poem to share, please do! I’d love to read it. I know the topics on this little part of the internet are quite varied, so thank you for reading along and sharing part of your day with me.
If you have more time, I have more posts!
Kids Write the Funniest Things
How I Accidentally Got My Kids Excited for College
Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps Cake
Zero Gravity Chair Repair on the Cheap
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