March Madness 11 PDF

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M a r c h ( a n d A p r i l) M a d n e s s !

April is National Poetry Month!

Help us celebrate by participating in March (and April) Madness.Be a part of deciding what it takes to be a good poem.

From a pool of 32 student-selected poems,one will make it through the sweet sixteen,

the great eight,the final four,

and the championship round to becomethe 2011 Shaker poem of the year.

“Fallen,” by Jörg Piringer

All Shaker High School students, faculty, and staff can vote for their favorites.

If your class is participating, you can read and vote in class; otherwise, you can vote

in the library. For each poetry match-up, a winner will be selected to move on to the

next round. Voting will take place as listed below – the votes will be counted at the

end of the school day on each of the dates.

First round voting (round of 32) due by Friday, April 1

Second round voting (sweet 16) due by Friday, April 8Third round voting (great 8) due by Friday, April 15

Semifinal (final 4) round voting due by Wednesday, April 27

Final round voting due by Friday, April 29



March(andApril)Madness

TableofContents

1.“OnlyaDad,”EdgarGuest2.“ToAlisonCunningham,”RobertLouisStevenson

3.KublaKhan,”SamuelTaylorColeridge

4.Ozymandias,”P.B.Shelley

5.“YouBegin,”MargaretAtwood

6.“Mrs.Kessler,”EdgarLeeMasters7.DeadHorseinField,”RobertPennWarren

8.“IntheBasementoftheGoodwillStore,”TedKooser

9.“ANoiselessPatientSpider,”WaltWhitman

10.“Chord,”StuartDybek

11.“Alone,”EdgarAllanPoe

12.“ForgottenLanguage,”ShelSilverstein

13.“EatingPoetry,”MarkStrand

14.“IfYouForgetMe,”PabloNeruda

15.“DancersExercising,”AmyClampitt16.“ItWouldBeNeatIfwiththeNewYear,”JimmySantiagoBaca

17.“TheSunRising,”JohnDonne18.“ATrueAccount,ofTalkingtotheSunatFireIsland”FrankO’Hara

19.“TheBestTimeoftheDay,”RaymondCarver

20.“Tuesday9:00AM,”DenverButson

21.“Here,”JoshuaMehigan

22.“Wildpeace,”YehudaAmichai23.“May,”SaraTeasdale

24.“SonnetVXIII,”WilliamShakespeare

25.“ChooseSomethingLikeaStar,”RobertFrost

26.“MyUmbrella,”AlbertRalph

27.“America,”ClaudeMcKay

28.“Invictus,”WilliamErnestHenley

29.“Marginalia,”BillyCollins

30.LifeIsFine,”LangstonHughes

31.“Entirely,”LouisMacNeice

32.“DanseRusse,”WilliamCarlosWilliams



1.OnlyaDad

byEdgarGuest

Onlyadadwithatiredface,Cominghomefromthedailyrace,

Bringinglittleofgoldorfame,

Toshowhowwellhehasplayedthegame,

Butgladinhisheartthathisownrejoice

Toseehimcomeandtohearhisvoice.

Onlyadadwithabroodoffour,

Oneoftenmillionmenormore.

Ploddingalonginthedailystrife,

Bearingthewhipsandthescornsoflife,

Withneverawhimperofpainorhate,

Forthesakeofthosewhoathomeawait.

Onlyadad,neitherrichnorproud,

Merelyoneofthesurgingcrowd

Toiling,strivingfromdaytoday,

Facingwhatevermaycomehisway,Silent,whenevertheharshcondemn,Andbearingitallfortheloveofthem.

Onlyadadbuthegiveshisall

Tosmooththewayforhischildrensmall,

Doing,withcouragesternandgrim,Thedeedsthathisfatherdidforhim.

ThisisthelinethatforhimIpen:

Onlyadad,butthebestofmen.

2.ToAlisonCunningham

fromHerBoy,RobertLouisStevenson

FORthelongnightsyoulayawake

Andwatchedformyunworthysake:

Foryourmostcomfortablehand

Thatledmethroughtheunevenland:

Forallthestory-booksyouread: 5 Forallthepainsyoucomforted:

Forallyoupitied,allyoubore,

Insadandhappydaysofyore: MysecondMother,myfirstWife,

Theangelofmyinfantlife 10Fromthesickchild,nowwellandold,

Take,nurse,thelittlebookyouhold!

Andgrantit,Heaven,thatallwhoread

Mayfindasdearanurseatneed,

Andeverychildwholistsmyrhyme, 15

Inthebright,fireside,nurseryclime,

Mayhearitinaskindavoice

Asmademychildishdaysrejoice!



3.KublaKhan

bySamuelTaylorColeridge

INXanadudidKublaKhan

Astatelypleasure-domedecree:

WhereAlph,thesacredriver,ran

Throughcavernsmeasurelesstoman

Downtoasunlesssea. 5 Sotwicefivemilesoffertileground

Withwallsandtowersweregirdledround:

Andthereweregardensbrightwithsinuousrills

Whereblossom'dmanyanincense-bearingtree;

Andherewereforestsancientasthehills, 10

Enfoldingsunnyspotsofgreenery.

ButO,thatdeepromanticchasmwhichslanted

Downthegreenhillathwartacedarncover!

Asavageplace!asholyandenchanted

Ase'erbeneathawaningmoonwashaunted 15 Bywomanwailingforherdemon-lover!

Andfromthischasm,withceaselessturmoilseething,

Asifthisearthinfastthickpantswerebreathing,

Amightyfountainmomentlywasforced;

Amidwhoseswifthalf-intermittedburst 20Hugefragmentsvaultedlikereboundinghail,

Orchaffygrainbeneaththethresher'sflail:

And'midthesedancingrocksatonceandever

Itflungupmomentlythesacredriver.

Fivemilesmeanderingwithamazymotion 25

Throughwoodanddalethesacredriverran,

Thenreach'dthecavernsmeasurelesstoman,

Andsankintumulttoalifelessocean:

And'midthistumultKublaheardfromfar

Ancestralvoicesprophesyingwar! 30

Theshadowofthedomeofpleasure

Floatedmidwayonthewaves; Wherewasheardthemingledmeasure

Fromthefountainandthecaves.

Itwasamiracleofraredevice, 35 Asunnypleasure-domewithcavesofice!

Adamselwithadulcimer

InavisiononceIsaw:

ItwasanAbyssinianmaid,

Andonherdulcimersheplay'd, 40

SingingofMountAbora.

CouldIrevivewithinme,

Hersymphonyandsong,

Tosuchadeepdelight'twouldwinme,



Thatwithmusicloudandlong, 45

Iwouldbuildthatdomeinair, Thatsunnydome!thosecavesofice!

Andallwhoheardshouldseethemthere, Andallshouldcry,Beware!Beware!

Hisflashingeyes,hisfloatinghair! 50

Weaveacircleroundhimthrice,

Andcloseyoureyeswithholydread,

Forheonhoney-dewhathfed, AnddrunkthemilkofParadise.

4.Ozymandias

byP.B.Shelley

IMETatravellerfromanantiqueland

Whosaid:Twovastandtrunklesslegsofstone

Standinthedesert.Nearthemonthesand,

Halfsunk,ashatter'dvisagelies,whosefrown

Andwrinkledlipandsneerofcoldcommand 5 Tellthatitssculptorwellthosepassionsread

Whichyetsurvive,stamp'dontheselifelessthings,

Thehandthatmock'dthemandtheheartthatfed.

Andonthepedestalthesewordsappear:

"MynameisOzymandias,kingofkings: 10Lookonmyworks,yemighty,anddespair!"

Nothingbesideremains:roundthedecay

Ofthatcolossalwreck,boundlessandbare,

Theloneandlevelsandsstretchfaraway.

5.YouBegin

byMargaretAtwood

Youbeginthisway:

thisisyourhand,

thisisyoureye,thatisafish,blueandflat

onthepaper,almosttheshapeofaneye.

Thisisyourmouth,thisisanO

oramoon,whicheveryoulike.Thisisyellow.

Outsidethewindow

istherain,green

becauseitissummer,andbeyondthat

thetreesandthentheworld,

whichisroundandhasonly

thecolorsoftheseninecrayons.



Thisistheworld,whichisfuller

andmoredifficulttolearnthanIhavesaid.Youarerighttosmudgeitthatway

withtheredandthentheorange:theworldburns.

Onceyouhavelearnedthesewords

youwilllearnthattherearemore

wordsthanyoucaneverlearn.Thewordhand floatsaboveyourhand

likeasmallcloudoveralake.

Thewordhand anchors

yourhandtothistable,

yourhandisawarmstone

Iholdbetweentwowords.

Thisisyourhand,thesearemyhands,thisistheworld,

whichisroundbutnotflatandhasmorecolors

thanwecansee.

Itbegins,ithasanend,

thisiswhatyouwill

comebackto,thisisyourhand.

6.Mrs.Kessler

byEdgarLeeMasters

MR.KESSLER,youknow,wasinthearmy,

Andhedrewsixdollarsamonthasapension,

Andstoodonthecornertalkingpolitics,

OrsatathomereadingGrant’sMemoirs;

AndIsupportedthefamilybywashing, 5

Learningthesecretsofallthepeople

Fromtheircurtains,counterpanes,shirtsandskirts.

Forthingsthatarenewgrowoldatlength,

They’rereplacedwithbetterornoneatall: Peopleareprosperingorfallingback. 10

Andrentsandpatcheswidenwithtime; Nothreadorneedlecanpacedecay,

Andtherearestainsthatbafflesoap,

Andtherearecolorsthatruninspiteofyou, Blamedthoughyouareforspoilingadress. 15

Handkerchiefs,napery,havetheirsecrets

Thelaundress,Life,knowsallaboutit.

AndI,whowenttoallthefunerals

HeldinSpoonRiver,swearInever

Sawadeadfacewithoutthinkingitlooked 20

Likesomethingwashedandironed.



7.DeadHorseinField

byRobertPennWarren

Inthelast,farfield,half-buriedInbarberrybushesred-fruited,thethoroughbred

Liesdead,leftforelegshatteredbelowknee,

A.30-30inheart.Indistance,

Inowseegorgedcrowsriseraggedinwind.Theday

AfterdeathIhadgoneforfarewell,andtheeyesWerealreadygonethat

Thebeneficentworkofcrows.Eyesgone,

Thetwo-year-oldcould,ofcourse,morereadilysee

Downthetrackofpureandeternaldarkness.

AweeklaterIcouldn’tgetclose.Thesweetstink

Hadbegun.Thatdamnedwagonmudhole

HiddenbyleavesaswegallopedIfoundit.

Spatonit.Asachildwould.NextdayThebuzzards.Howbeautifulinair!carving

Theslow,concentric,downwardpatternofvortex,wing-glintOnwing-glint.Fromthehouse,

Nowwithglasses,Isee

Thesquabbleandpushing,thewaggleofwattle-redheads.

AteveningIwatchthebuzzards,thecrows,Arise.Theyswingblackinnature’sflowandperfection,

Highinsadcarmineofsunset.Forgiveness

Isnotindicated.Itissuperfluous.Theyare

Whattheyare.

HowlongbeforeIgobacktosee

Thatintricatepieceof

Modernsculpture,whitenow,

Assuminginstasis

Newbeauty!Then,

Ayearlater,I’llseeThegreentwineofvine,eachleaf

Heart-shaped,softasvelvet,beginningItsbenediction.

ItthinksitisGod.

Canyouthinkofsomegroundonwhichthatmaybegainsaid?



8.IntheBasementoftheGoodwillStore

byTedKooser

Inmustylight,inthethinbrownairofdampcarpet,dollheadsandrust,

beneathlongrowsofsharpfootfalls

likenailsinalid,anoldmanstands

tryingonglasses,liftingeachpair

fromtheboxlikeaglitteringfishandholdingituptothelight

ofadirtybulb.Nearhim,aheap

ofenameledpansaswhiteasskulls

loomsinthecatacombshadows,

andoldtoiletswithdryredthroats

coughupbouquetsofcurtainrods.

You’veseenhimsomewherebefore.

He’swearingthegreenleisuresuityouthrewoutwiththegarbage,

andtheChristmastieyouhated,andtheventilatedwingtipshoes

youfoundinyourfather’scloset

andworeasajoke.Andtheglasses

whichfinallyfithim,throughwhich

helookstoseeyoulookingbacktwomirrorswhichflashandglance

arethosethroughwhichoneday

youtoowilllookdownovertheyears,

whenyouhavegrownoldandthin

andnolongerparticular,

andthethingsyouoncethought

youwereridofforever

havetakenyoubackintheirarms.

9.ANoiselessPatientSpider

byWaltWhitman

ANOISELESS,patientspider,

Imark’d,where,onalittlepromontory,itstood,isolated;

Mark’dhow,toexplorethevacant,vastsurrounding,Itlaunch’dforthfilament,filament,filament,outofitself;

Everunreelingthemevertirelesslyspeedingthem.

Andyou,OmySoul,whereyoustand,

Surrounded,surrounded,inmeasurelessoceansofspace,

Ceaselesslymusing,venturing,throwing,seekingthespheres,toconnectthem;

Tillthebridgeyouwillneed,beform’dtilltheductileanchorhold;

Tillthegossamerthreadyoufling,catchsomewhere,OmySoul.



10.Chord

byStuartDybek

Amanstepsoutofsunlight,

sunlightthatstreamslikegrace,

stillgapingatbluesky

stakedacrosstheemptinessofspace,

intoahistorywhereshadows

assumeahumanface.

Amanslipsintosilence

thatbeganasacry,

stilltrailingmusic

althoughreducedtothesigh

ofanaccordionasitfoldsintoitscase.

11.Alone

byEdgarAllanPoe

Fromchildhood’shourIhavenotbeen

AsotherswereIhavenotseen

AsotherssawIcouldnotbring

Mypassionsfromacommonspring

FromthesamesourceIhavenottaken

MysorrowIcouldnotawaken

Myhearttojoyatthesametone

AndallIlov’dI lov’dalone

Theninmychildhoodinthedawn

OfamoststormylifewasdrawnFromev’rydepthofgoodandill

ThemysterywhichbindsmestillFromthetorrent,orthefountain

Fromtheredcliffofthemountain

Fromthesunthat’roundmeroll’dInitsautumntintofgold

Fromthelightninginthesky

Asitpass’dmeflyingby

Fromthethunder,andthestorm

Andthecloudthattooktheform

(WhentherestofHeavenwasblue)

Ofademoninmyview



12.ForgottenLanguage

byShelSilverstein

OnceIspokethelanguageoftheflowers,OnceIunderstoodeachwordthecaterpillarsaid,

OnceIsmiledinsecretatthegossipofthestarlings,

Andsharedaconversationwiththehousefly

inmybed.

OnceIheardandansweredallthequestionsofthecrickets,

Andjoinedthecryingofeachfallingdying

flakeofsnow,

OnceIspokethelanguageoftheflowers....

Howdiditgo?

Howdiditgo?

13.EatingPoetry byMarkStrand

Inkrunsfromthecornersofmymouth.

Thereisnohappinesslikemine.

Ihavebeeneatingpoetry.

Thelibrariandoesnotbelievewhatshesees.Hereyesaresad

andshewalkswithherhandsinherdress.

Thepoemsaregone.

Thelightisdim.

Thedogsareonthebasementstairsandcomingup.

Theireyeballsroll,

theirblondlegsburnlikebrush.

Thepoorlibrarianbeginstostampherfeetandweep.

Shedoesnotunderstand.

WhenIgetonmykneesandlickherhand,shescreams.

Iamanewman.Isnarlatherandbark.

Irompwithjoyinthebookishdark.



14.IfYouForgetMe

byPabloNeruda

Iwantyoutoknowonething.

Youknowhowthisis:

ifIlook

atthecrystalmoon,attheredbranchoftheslowautumnatmywindow,

ifItouch

nearthefire

theimpalpableash

orthewrinkledbodyofthelog,

everythingcarriesmetoyou,

asifeverythingthatexists,

aromas,light,metals,

werelittleboatsthatsail

towardthoseislesofyoursthatwaitforme.

Well,now,

iflittlebylittleyoustoplovingme

Ishallstoplovingyoulittlebylittle.

Ifsuddenly

youforgetme

donotlookforme,

forIshallalreadyhaveforgottenyou.

Ifyouthinkitlongandmad,

thewindofbanners

thatpassesthroughmylife,

andyoudecide

toleavemeattheshore

oftheheartwhereIhaveroots,remember

thatonthatday,atthathour,

Ishallliftmyarms

andmyrootswillsetofftoseekanotherland.

But

ifeachday,

eachhour,

youfeelthatyouaredestinedforme

withimplacablesweetness,

ifeachdayaflower

climbsuptoyourlipstoseekme,

ahmylove,ahmyown,



inmeallthatfireisrepeated,

inmenothingisextinguishedorforgotten,mylovefeedsonyourlove,beloved,

andaslongasyouliveitwillbeinyourarmswithoutleavingmine.

15.DancersExercising

byAmyClampitt

Framewithinframe,theevolvingconversation

isdancelike,asthoughtwocouldplay

atimprovisingsnowflakes’

six-feather-vanedevanescence,

notwoeveralike.Allprocess

andnoarrival:thehappierweare,

thelessthereisformemorytotakeholdof,

ormemorybeingsolargelyapredilection

fortheexceptionalcometoahaltinfrontof.Butfinding,oneevening

onastreetnotquitefamiliar,insideagated

November-soddengarden,abuilding

ofuncertainprovenance,

peeringintowhosevestibulewewere

arrestedaframewithinaframe,alozengeofimpeccableclarity

bythereflection,no,not

ofourtwoselves,butof

dancersexercisinginamirror,

atthecenter

ofthatclarity,whatwesaw

wasnotstillness

butmovement:theperfection

ofmemoryconsisting,itwouldseem,

inthenever-to-be-completed.

Wesawthemmirroringthemselves,neverguessingthevestibule

thatdefinedthem,framewithinframe,containedtwoothermirrors.



16.ItwouldbeneatifwiththeNewYear

byJimmySantiagoBaca

forMiguel

ItwouldbeneatifwiththeNewYear

Icouldleavemylonelinessbehindwiththeoldyear.

Myleatherylonelinessanoldpairofworkboots

mydogvigorouslyhead-shakesbackandforthinitsjaws,chewsonforhourseverydayinmyfrontyard

rain,sun,snow,orwind

inbarefeet,ponderingmypoem,

I’dlookoutmywindowandseethatdirtypairofbootsintheyard.

Butmyhappinessdependssomuchonwearingthoseboots.

Attheendofmyday

whileI’minachairlisteningtoaMexicancorridoIstareatmybootsappreciating:

allthewrongroadswe’vetaken,allthedrugandwhiskeyhouseswe’vevisited,andastheMexicansingerwailshispain,

Ismileatmyboots,understandingeverynoteinhisvoice,

andstrangers,whentheyseemybootsrockingbackandforthonmy

feet

keepingbeattothesong,seehowmybootsarescuffed,tooth-marked,worn-soled.

Ikeepwearingthembecausetheyfitsogood

andIneedthem,especiallywhenIlovesohard,

whereIgoupthoseboulderstrewntrails,

whereflowerscrackrocksintheirdefiantloveforthelight.

17.TheSunRising

byJohnDonne

Busyoldfool,unrulysun,

Whydostthouthus,Throughwindows,andthroughcurtainscallonus?

Musttothymotionslovers'seasonsrun?

Saucypedanticwretch,gochideLateschoolboysandsourprentices,

Gotellcourthuntsmenthatthekingwillride,

Callcountryantstoharvestoffices,

Love,allalike,noseasonknowsnorclime,

Norhours,days,months,whicharetheragsoftime.

Thybeams,soreverendandstrong

Whyshouldstthouthink?

Icouldeclipseandcloudthemwithawink,

ButthatIwouldnotlosehersightsolong;



Ifhereyeshavenotblindedthine,

Look,andtomorrowlate,tellme,Whetherbothth'Indiasofspiceandmine

Bewherethouleftstthem,orlieherewithme.Askforthosekingswhomthousaw'styesterday,

Andthoushalthear,Allhereinonebedlay.

She'sallstates,andallprinces,I,

Nothingelseis.Princesdobutplayus;comparedtothis,

Allhonor'smimic,allwealthalchemy.

Thou,sun,arthalfashappyaswe,

Inthattheworld'scontractedthus.

Thineageasksease,andsincethydutiesbe

Towarmtheworld,that'sdoneinwarmingus.

Shineheretous,andthouarteverywhere;

Thisbedthycenteris,thesewalls,thysphere.

18.ATrueAccountOfTalkingToTheSunAtFireIsland

byFrankO'Hara

TheSunwokemethismorningloud

andclear,saying"Hey!I'vebeen

tryingtowakeyouupforfifteenminutes.Don'tbesorude,youare

onlythesecondpoetI'veeverchosen

tospeaktopersonally

sowhy

aren'tyoumoreattentive?IfIcould

burnyouthroughthewindowIwould

towakeyouup.Ican'thangaround

hereallday."

"Sorry,Sun,Istayed

uplatelastnighttalkingtoHal."

"WhenIwokeupMayakovskyhewas

alotmoreprompt"theSunsaidpetulantly."Mostpeopleareup

alreadywaitingtoseeifI'mgoing

toputinanappearance."Itried

toapologize"Imissedyouyesterday."

"That'sbetter"hesaid."Ididn't

knowyou'dcomeout.""YoumaybewonderingwhyI'vecomesoclose?"

"Yes"Isaidbeginningtofeelhot

andwonderingifmaybehewasn't

burningme

anyway.

"FranklyIwantedtotellyou

Ilikeyourpoetry.Iseealot



onmyroundsandyou'reokay.You

maynotbethegreatestthingonearth,but

you'redifferent.Now,I'veheardsomesayyou'recrazy,theybeingexcessively

calmthemselvestomymind,andother

crazypoetsthinkthatyou'reaboring

reactionary.Notme.

JustkeeponlikeIdoandpaynoattention.You'll

findthatsomepeoplealwayswill

complainabouttheatmosphere,

eithertoohot

ortoocoldtoobrightortoodark,days

tooshortortoolong.

Ifyoudon'tappear

atallonedaytheythinkyou'relazy

ordead.Justkeeprighton,Ilikeit.

Anddon'tworryaboutyourlineagepoeticornatural.TheSunshineson

thejungle,youknow,onthetundra

thesea,theghetto.Whereveryou

were

Iknewitandsawyoumoving.Iwaswaiting

foryoutogettowork.

Andnowthatyou

aremakingyourowndays,soto

speak,

evenifnoonereadsyoubutme

youwon'tbedepressed.Not

everyonecanlookup,evenatme.It

hurtstheireyes."

"OhSun,I'msogratefultoyou!"

"ThanksandrememberI'mwatching.It's

easierformetospeaktoyouout

here.Idon'thavetoslidedownbetweenbuildingstogetyourear.

IknowyouloveManhattan,but

yououghttolookupmoreoften.

And

alwaysembracethings,peopleearth

skystars,asIdo,freelyandwith

theappropriatesenseofspace.That

isyourinclination,knowninthe

heavens

andyoushouldfollowittohell,if



necessary,whichIdoubt.

Maybewe'llspeakagaininAfrica,ofwhichItoo

amspeciallyfond.Gobacktosleepnow

Frank,andImayleaveatinypoem

inthatbrainofyoursasmyfarewell."

"Sun,don'tgo!"Iwasawakeatlast."No,goImust,they'recalling

me."

"Whoarethey?"

Risinghesaid"Some

dayyou'llknow.They'recallingtoyou

too."Darklyherose,andthenIslept.

19.TheBestTimeOfTheDay

byRaymondCarver

Coolsummernights.

Windowsopen.

Lampsburning.

Fruitinthebowl.

Andyourheadonmyshoulder.Thesethehappiestmomentsintheday.

Nexttotheearlymorninghours,

ofcourse.Andthetime

justbeforelunch.

Andtheafternoon,and

earlyeveninghours.

ButIdolove

thesesummernights.

Evenmore,Ithink,thanthoseothertimes.

Theworkfinishedfortheday.Andnoonewhocanreachusnow.

Orever.



20.Tuesday9:00AM

byDenverButson

Amanstandingatthebusstop

readingthenewspaperisonfireFlamesarepeekingout

frombeneathhiscollarandcuffs

Hisshoeshavebeguntomelt

Thewomannexttohimwantstomentionittohim

thatheisburning

butsheisdrowning

Wateriseverywhere

inhermouthandears

inhereyes

Astreamofwaterruns

steadilyfromherblouse

Anotherwomanstandsatthebusstop

freezingtodeathShetriestostandneartheman

whoisonfire

totrytomelttheicicles

thathaveformedonhereyelashes

andonhernostrilstostopherteethlongenough

fromchatteringtosaysomething

tothewomanwhoisdrowning

butthewomanwhoisfreezingtodeath

hastroublemoving

withblocksoficeonherfeet

Ittakesthethreesometime

toboardthebus

whatwiththeflames

andwaterandiceButwhentheyfinallyclimbthestairs

andtaketheirseatsthedriverdoesn'tevennotice

thatnoneofthemhaspaid

becauseheistorturedbyvisionsandiswondering

ifthemanwhogotoffatthelaststop

wasreallybeingmauledtodeath

bywilddogs.



21.Here

byJoshuaMehigan

Nothinghaschanged.Theyhaveawelcomesign,ahillwithcowsandawhitehouseontop,

amallandgrocerystorewherepeopleshop,

adinerwheresomepeoplegotodine.

Itisthesamenomatterwhereyougo,

anddowntownyouwillfindnobigsurprises.Eachfallthedewpointfallsuntilitrises.

Whitesnow,greenbuds,greenlawn,redleaves,whitesnow.

Thisisallright.Thisistheirhope.Andyet,

thoughwhatyouseeisneverwhatyouget,

itdoesfeelsomehowchangedfromwhatitwas.

Isitthepeople?Houses?Fields?Theweather?

Isitthestreets?Isitthesethingstogether?

Nothinghereeverchanges,tillitdoes.

22.Wildpeace

byYehudaAmichai

Notthepeaceofacease-fire

noteventhevisionofthewolfandthelamb,butrather

asintheheartwhentheexcitementisover

andyoucantalkonlyaboutagreatweariness.

IknowthatIknowhowtokill,thatmakesmeanadult.

Andmysonplayswithatoygunthatknows

howtoopenandcloseitseyesandsayMama.

Apeace

withoutthebignoiseofbeatingswordsintoploughshares,

withoutwords,without

thethudoftheheavyrubberstamp:letitbe

light,floating,likelazywhitefoam.Alittlerestforthewounds-whospeaksofhealing?

(Andthehowloftheorphansispassedfromonegenerationtothenext,asinarelayrace:

thebatonneverfalls.)

Letitcome

likewildflowers,

suddenly,becausethefield

musthaveit:wildpeace.



23.May

bySaraTeasdale

Thewindistossingthelilacs,Thenewleaveslaughinthesun,

Andthepetalsfallontheorchardwall,

Butformethespringisdone.

BeneaththeappleblossomsIgoawintryway,

ForlovethatsmiledinApril

IsfalsetomeinMay.

24.SonnetVXIII

byWilliamShakespeare

ShallIcomparetheetoasummer'sday?

Thouartmorelovelyandmoretemperate:RoughwindsdoshakethedarlingbudsofMay,

Andsummer'sleasehathalltooshortadate:Sometimetoohottheeyeofheavenshines,

Andoftenishisgoldcomplexiondimm'd;

Andeveryfairfromfairsometimedeclines,

Bychanceornature'schangingcourseuntrimm'd;

ButthyeternalsummershallnotfadeNorlosepossessionofthatfairthouowest;

NorshallDeathbragthouwander'stinhisshade,

Whenineternallinestotimethougrowest:

Solongasmencanbreatheoreyescansee,

Solonglivesthisandthisgiveslifetothee.

25.ChooseSomethingLikeaStarbyRobertFrost

OStar(thefairestoneinsight),Wegrantyourloftinesstheright

TosomeobscurityofcloudItwillnotdotosayofnight,

Sincedarkiswhatbringsoutyourlight.

Somemysterybecomestheproud.Buttobewhollytaciturn

Inyourreserveisnotallowed.

Saysomethingtouswecanlearn

Byheartandwhenalonerepeat.

Saysomething!Anditsays,'Iburn.'

Butsaywithwhatdegreeofheat.

TalkFahrenheit,talkCentigrade.

Uselanguagewecancomprehend.

Telluswhatelementsyoublend.

Itgivesusstrangelylittleaid,



Butdoestellsomethingintheend.

AndsteadfastasKeats'Eremite,Notevenstoopingfromitssphere,

Itasksalittleofushere.Itasksofusacertainheight,

Sowhenattimesthemobisswayed

Tocarrypraiseorblametoofar,

Wemaychoosesomethinglikeastar

Tostayourmindsonandbestaid.

26.MYUMBRELLAByAlbertRaplh

Inthemidstoffallingrain,IfindI’mnotfalling.

Catsanddogsdon’thoundme.

Raincloudsrollby.

Stormcloudspiledhigh.Myumbrella,keepsthefallingrainfromdrowningme.

Holdmeclose!Seemeflying!

Redskies,donotmournforme.

Sailorsworry,Jailorsscurry.

Butmyumbrellakeepsthefallingrainfromwashingmeaway.

It’sbeensaidtome,

Thatasmileshouldbeyourumbrella.

WellIsupposethatitmaybetrue,

Butitgoesmuchdeeperthanthat.

Becauseasmileisjustanothercoatyouwear,

Buttherainchillstothebone.

SofromnowonI’llbewearingmysmile,

Rightnexttomyheart.

Becauseabrokenheartcancausealotofpain,

Butabrokensmileisasmileallthesame.Andbrokendreamscandriveamaninsane,

Butabrokenumbrellastillholdsoutsomerain.

Rainohraincloud,Passawaynow.

Comeonbackanotherday,Causemyumbrellawantstoplay.

Inthemidstofallmypain,Ifind,I’mnothurting.

Nolongerallwrappedup.

Anewwindstirsnow.

Myminditclearsnow.

Nowsthetimetocatchthesunbeforeitfliesaway.

Holdmeclose!Let’sgoflying!

Blueskikessoaringinyoureyes!



Takemyhandnow.

Noneedtolandnow.Sailing,drifting,wingsoflovecancarryyouandIaway.

It’sbeensaidtome,thatasmileshouldbeyourumbrella.

27.America

byClaudeMcKay

Althoughshefeedsmebreadofbitterness,

Andsinksintomythroathertiger'stooth,

Stealingmybreathoflife,Iwillconfess

Ilovethisculturedhellthattestsmyyouth.

Hervigorflowsliketidesintomyblood,

Givingmestrengtherectagainstherhate,

Herbignesssweepsmybeinglikeaflood.

Yet,asarebelfrontsakinginstate,

IstandwithinherwallswithnotashredOfterror,malice,notawordofjeer.

DarklyIgazeintothedaysahead,Andseehermightandgranitewondersthere,

BeneaththetouchofTime'sunerringhand,

Likepricelesstreasuressinkinginthesand.

28.Invictus

byWilliamErnestHenley

Outofthenightthatcoversme,

BlackasthePitfrompoletopole,

Ithankwhatevergodsmaybe

Formyunconquerablesoul.

Inthefellclutchofcircumstance

Ihavenotwincednorcriedaloud.

UnderthebludgeoningsofchanceMyheadisbloody,butunbowed.

Beyondthisplaceofwrathandtears

LoomsbuttheHorroroftheshade,

AndyetthemenaceoftheyearsFinds,andshallfind,meunafraid.

Itmattersnothowstraitthegate,

Howchargedwithpunishmentsthescroll.

Iamthemasterofmyfate:

Iamthecaptainofmysoul.



29.Marginalia

byBillyCollins

Sometimesthenotesareferocious,skirmishesagainsttheauthor

ragingalongthebordersofeverypage

intinyblackscript.

IfIcouldjustgetmyhandsonyou,

Kierkegaard,orConorCruiseO'Brien,theyseemtosay,

Iwouldboltthedoorandbeatsomelogicintoyourhead.

Othercommentsaremoreoffhand,dismissive-

"Nonsense.""Please!""HA!!"-

thatkindofthing.

Irememberoncelookingupfrommyreading,

mythumbasabookmark,

tryingtoimaginewhatthepersonmustlooklike

whywrote"Don'tbeaninny"

alongsideaparagraphinTheLifeofEmilyDickinson.

Studentsaremoremodest

needingtoleaveonlytheirsplayedfootprints

alongtheshoreofthepage.

Onescrawls"Metaphor"nexttoastanzaofEliot's.Anothernotesthepresenceof"Irony"

fiftytimesoutsidetheparagraphsofAModestProposal.

Ortheyarefanswhocheerfromtheemptybleachers,

Handscuppedaroundtheirmouths.

"Absolutely,"theyshout

toDunsScotusandJamesBaldwin.

"Yes.""Bull's-eye.""Myman!"

Checkmarks,asterisks,andexclamationpoints

raindownalongthesidelines.

Andifyouhavemanagedtograduatefromcollege

withouteverhavingwritten"Manvs.Nature"inamargin,perhapsnow

isthetimetotakeonestepforward.

Wehaveallseizedthewhiteperimeterasourown

andreachedforapenifonlytoshow

wedidnotjustlazeinanarmchairturningpages;

wepressedathoughtintothewayside,

plantedanimpressionalongtheverge.

EvenIrishmonksintheircoldscriptoria

jottedalongthebordersoftheGospels

briefasidesaboutthepainsofcopying,

abirdsigningneartheirwindow,



orthesunlightthatilluminatedtheirpage-

anonymousmencatchingarideintothefutureonavesselmorelastingthanthemselves.

AndyouhavenotreadJoshuaReynolds,

theysay,untilyouhavereadhim

enwreathedwithBlake'sfuriousscribbling.

YettheoneIthinkofmostoften,theonethatdanglesfrommelikealocket,

waswritteninthecopyofCatcherintheRye

Iborrowedfromthelocallibrary

oneslow,hotsummer.

Iwasjustbeginninghighschoolthen,

readingbooksonadavenportinmyparents'livingroom,

andIcannottellyou

howvastlymylonelinesswasdeepened,

howpoignantandamplifiedtheworldbeforemeseemed,

whenIfoundononepage

Afewgreasylookingsmears

andnexttothem,writteninsoftpencil-

byabeautifulgirl,Icouldtell,

whomIwouldnevermeet-

"Pardontheeggsaladstains,butI'minlove."

30.LifeisFine byLangstonHughes

Iwentdowntotheriver,

Isetdownonthebank.

Itriedtothinkbutcouldn't,

SoIjumpedinandsank.

Icameuponceandhollered!Icameuptwiceandcried!

Ifthatwaterhadn'ta-beensocold

Imight'vesunkanddied.

ButitwasColdinthatwater!Itwascold!

Itooktheelevator

Sixteenfloorsabovetheground.

Ithoughtaboutmybaby

AndthoughtIwouldjumpdown.

IstoodthereandIhollered!

IstoodthereandIcried!

Ifithadn'ta-beensohigh

Imight'vejumpedanddied.



ButitwasHighupthere!Itwashigh!

SosinceI'mstillherelivin',IguessIwillliveon.

Icould'vediedforlove--

Butforlivin'Iwasborn

Thoughyoumayhearmeholler,Andyoumayseemecry--

I'llbedogged,sweetbaby,

Ifyougonnaseemedie.

Lifeisfine!Fineaswine!Lifeisfine!

31.EntirelybyLouisMacNeice

IfwecouldgetthehangofitentirelyItwouldtaketoolong;

Allweknowisthesplashofwordsinpassing

Andfallingtwigsofsong,

Andwhenwetrytoeavesdroponthegreat

PresencesitisrarelyThatbyastrokeofluckwecanappropriate

Evenaphraseentirely.

Ifwecouldfindourhappinessentirely

Insomebodyelse’sarms

Weshouldnotfearthespearsofthespringnorthecity’s

Yammeringfirealarms

But,asitis,thespearseachyeargothrough

Ourfleshandalmosthourly

Bellorsirenbanishestheblue

EyesofLoveentirely.

AndiftheworldwereblackorwhiteentirelyAndallthechartswereplain

Insteadofamadweiroftigerishwaters,

Aprismofdelightandpain,Wemightbesurerwherewewishedtogo

Oragainwemightbemerely

Boredbutinbruterealitythereisno

Roadthatisrightentirely.



32.DanseRusse

byWilliamCarlosWilliams

IfwhenmywifeissleepingandthebabyandKathleen

aresleeping

andthesunisaflame-whitedisc

insilkenmists

aboveshiningtrees,-ifIinmynorthroom

dancenaked,grotesquely

beforemymirror

wavingmyshirtroundmyhead

andsingingsoftlytomyself:

"Iamlonely,lonely,

Iwasborntobelonely,

Iambestso!"

IfIadmiremyarms,myface,

myshoulders,flanks,buttocks

againsttheyellowdrawnshades,-

WhoshallsayIamnot

thehappygeniusofmyhousehold?

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