Tag: National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month: April 1st

April 1, 2012

Happiness by Carl Sandburg

I asked professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying
     to fool with them.
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and
    children and a keg of beer and an accordian.

This poem was selected by Russell J. (Readers’ Services)

Poetry Copyright Notice

April is National Poetry Month

Chances are good it snuck up on you.  Between the madness of your NCAA brackets, the July-like March sunshine, and standing in line at The Hunger Games premiere, you very likely didn’t notice National Poetry Month peeking around the corner.  But April is here, friends, and fortunately you’ve come to THE place for your poetry celebration.  Off the Shelf has you covered.  You see, today we kick-off our 3rd annual National Poetry Month extravaganza during which we showcase one staff-picked “Poem of the Day” for the entire month of April.  For your poetry pleasure, we’ll also have plenty of poetry news, features, and much, much more.  So sit back, relax, and stay awhile.  This poetry party is just getting started.

National Poetry Month: April 30th

April 30, 2011

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden

Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze.  No one ever thanked him.
 
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic anger of that house,
 
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?
 
 
This poem was selected by Russell J. (Reader’s Services)
 

National Poetry Month: April 28th

April 28, 2011

Baggage by Deborah Warren

Don’t tell me you expect to find a guy
who comes with just a daypack.  That’s enough
to date on, maybe, but — to marry on?
You’re bothered by a little freight?  But why?
Give me a man who’s travelling with stuff,
with serious luggage, not just carry-on —
whole skeletons in Samsonite; who brings
impedimenta — parents, kids, ex-wife,
outstanding loans.  The stained and rumpled things
in steamer trunks and duffles are a life:
The more of it the better.  Where you’ve been
and what you’ve brought along — if you’ve been far
and filled a lot of battered leather, then
don’t call it baggage.  It’s just what you are.

This poem was selected by Jeff B. (Reader’s Services)

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National Poetry Month: April 27th

April 27, 2011

Anti-Love Poem by Grace Paley

Sometimes you don’t want to love the person you love
you turn your face away from that face
whose eyes lips might make you give up anger
forget insult  steal sadness  of not wanting
to love  turn away then turn away   at breakfast
in the evening   don’t lift your eyes from the paper
to see that face in all its seriousness   a
sweetness of concentration  he holds his book
in his hand    the hard-knuckled winter wood-
scarred fingers    turn away   that’s all you can
do   old as you are to save yourself   from love

This poem was selected by Mary H. (Reader’s Services)

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National Poetry Month: April 26th

April 26, 2011

His Future as Attila the Hun by Timothy Donnelly

But when I try to envision what it might be like to live
     detached from the circuitry that suffers me to crave
what I know I’ll never need, or what I need but have
     in abundance already, I feel the cloud of food-court
breakfast loosen its embrace, I feel the shopping center
     drop as its escalator tenders me up to the story
intended for conference space.  I feel my doubt diminish, my debt
     diminish; I feel a snow that falls on public statuary Continue reading “National Poetry Month: April 26th” →

An Interview with Charlotte Digregorio

April 25, 2011

Poet Charlotte Digregorio

Charlotte Digregorio is an award-winning author, teacher, and poet in the traditional Japanese form of haiku.  Her poetry has been featured in such publications as Modern Haiku, frogpond, The University of Chicago Magazine, bottle rockets, and Shamrock Haiku Journal, and as Midwest Regional Coordinator of the Haiku Society of America, the Winnetka resident works tirelessly to promote haiku through workshops, conferences, and contests.  On May 7th, you can hear Ms. Digregorio speak about the history of haiku when EPL proudly hosts Haikufest from 1-5:30 p.m. in our 1st Floor Community Meeting Room.  Featuring a writing workshop, haiku contest, book signings, and additional talks by prolific haikuists and artists, Haikufest is a free, HSA-sponsored poetry event that promises to education and inspire haiku lovers both new and old.  To pre-register, simply contact Ms. Digregorio at (847) 881-2664 or EPL at (847) 448-8600.  In anticipation of Haikufest, we recently spoke with Ms. Digregorio via email where she shared some of her haiku and poetic inspirations, discussed her work with HSA, and previewed Haikufest’s exciting line-up of speakers.

Continue reading “An Interview with Charlotte Digregorio” →

National Poetry Month: April 25th

The Lady’s Reward by Dorothy Parker

Lady, lady, never start
Conversation toward your heart;
Keep your pretty words serene;
Never murmur what you mean.
Show yourself, by word and look,
Swift and shallow as a brook.
Be as cool and quick to go
As a drop of April snow;
Be as trenchant and as gay
As a cherry flower in May.
Lady, lady, never speak
Of the tears that burn your cheek–
She will never win him, whose
Words had shown she feared to lose.
Be you wise and never sad,
You will get your lovely lad.
Never serious be, nor true,
And your wish will come to you–
And if that makes you happy, kid,
You’ll be the first it ever did.

This poem was selected by Olivia M. (Reader’s Services)

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National Poetry Month: April 24th

April 24, 2011

Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
  My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
  One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
‘Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
  But being too happy in thine happiness,–
    That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
          In some melodious plot
  Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
    Singest of summer in full-throated ease. Continue reading “National Poetry Month: April 24th” →

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