Poetry for Practice: Lucille Clifton - blessing the boats

After reading a few weightier poems recently, I wanted something that, on the surface, felt lighter. Lucille Clifton certainly delivers this in her beautiful poem “blessing the boats,” where the words feel fluid, moving around you with an almost meditative quality. Lucille Clifton blessing the bo... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Kahlil Gibran - Half Life

As June marks the midpoint of the year, it’s natural to reflect on the months passed so far and reevaluate the time still ahead. Our instinct is often to focus on what remains undone, however, Kahlil Gibran's poem "Half Life" invites a different perspective. It asks not how much we have achieved,... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Mary Oliver - The Sun

An ode to the sun this week and a gentle reproach against capitalism. Mary Oliver The Sun Have you ever seenanythingin your lifemore wonderfulthan the way the sun,every evening,relaxed and easy,floats toward the horizonand into the clouds or the hills,or the rumpled sea,and is gone–and how it sli... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Berton Braley - Opportunity

This week, I was looking for a poem that was more direct, something with a clear, motivational message that could be easily absorbed. “Opportunity” by Berton Braley certainly fit that brief, but, as is often the case with poetry, its meaning revealed itself to be far deeper than I initially thoug... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Anna Akhmatova - I Taught Myself To Live Simply

I think nature and presence are to poets what love and heartbreak are to lyricists! I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading these little reminders that life is happening right in front of us, if we just slow down enough to notice. Anna Akhmatova   I Taught Myself To Live Simply I taught myse... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Antonio Machado - Last Night As I Was Sleeping

Rather than me choosing a poem each week, it feels more like the poem finds me. This one arrived through a serendipitous trail of breadcrumbs; an article, an author, a book review, a book I was already excited about. And then, somehow, Machado! Antonio Machado Last Night As I Was Sleeping Last ni... Read More

Poetry for Practice: John Dryden - Happy the Man

One of the things I love about poetry is the way it connects us to many of the same thoughts, feelings and emotions that people were experiencing hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Despite all our technological and scientific advances, poetry reminds us that the human experience remains unc... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Portia Nelson - Autobiography In Five Short Chapters

A lighter, but thought provoking poem this week by Portia Nelson. It was enjoyable to read and gauge participants reactions as we moved through each chapter, the moments of recognition and understanding. Portia Nelson Autobiography In Five Short Chapters I I walk down the street. There is a deep ... Read More

Poetry for Practice: Rainer Maria Rilke - Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower

This week’s poem is called “Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower” by Rainer Maria Rilke, and offers a different perspective to the other poems we’ve explored so far. This poem invites us to flip the way we approach positive thinking, so instead of chasing the light, we let the darkness in. Rainer Ma... Read More

Poetry for Practice: W.H. Davies - Leisure

I came across this poem via Poet’s Day and immediately connected to the sentiment. Much of my teaching is about stopping, noticing and observing, and W.H. Davies illustrates this beautifully in his poem “Leisure”. W.H. Davies Leisure What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand an... Read More