The month of April is National Poetry Month. A whole month dedicated to celebrating poetry and poets. While staying home, and looking for work, during this strange time with the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, it is vital to take some time and relax and what better way to do this than by reading a few great poems.
I am still offering POETRY FOR $ while I am unemployed and looking for a job. It has been a hard few weeks since I was laid off from my job as FOH employee at Squatters Pub Brewery in Downtown Salt Lake City. I have been applying to a minimum of 2-5 jobs a day and thankfully just received my first unemployment check yesterday (not a lot but something) which is helping me pay some of my bills right now.
I have celebrated NaPoMo on my blog quite a few times, here is one National Poetry Month
Some great resources/websites to check out during NaPoMo:
My Favorite Poems: William Carlos Williams and Marianne Moore
“Kora in Hell: Improvisations XI” bY WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS
Why pretend to remember the weather two years back? Why not? Listen close then repeat after others what they have just said and win a reputation for vivacity. Oh feed upon petals of edelweiss! one dew drop, if it be from the right flower, is five years’ drink!
Having once taken the plunge the situation that preceded it becomes obsolete which a moment before was alive with malignant rigidities.
When beldams dig clams their fat hams (it’s always beldams) balanced near Tellus’s hide, this rhinoceros pelt, these lumped stone—buffoonery of midges on a bull’s thigh—invoke,—what you will: birth’s glut, awe at God’s craft, youth’s poverty, evolution of a child’s caper, man’s poor inconsequence. Eclipse of all things; sun’s self turned hen’s rump.
Cross a knife and fork and listen to the church bells! It is the harvest moon’s made wine of our blood. Up over the dark factory into the blue glare start the young poplars. They whisper: It is Sunday! It is Sunday! But the laws of the country have been stripped bare of leaves. Out over the marshes flickers our laughter. A lewd anecdote’s the chase. On through the vapory heather! And there at banter’s edge the city looks at us sidelong with great eyes—lifts to its lips heavenly milk! Lucina, O Lucina! beneficent cow, how have we offended thee?
Hilariously happy because of some obscure wine of the fancy which they have drunk four rollicking companions take delight in the thought that they have thus evaded the stringent laws of the county. Seeing the distant city bathed in moonlight and staring seriously at them they liken the moon to a cow and its light to milk.
Excerpt from poetryfoundation.org
“You Are Fire Eaters” by Marianne Moore – 1887-1972
Not a mere blowing flame— A clinking ash, I feel—with shame, At malendeavor in your service. But as Jehoshaphat said on that occasion in Old Testament history, "The battle is not mine," And strategy laid down—in fine Surrender, may be conquest.
I love National Poetry Month and it is something I can enjoy during this hard time. I hope that you can find some poems to enjoy, or better yet find a poet you haven’t read before who’s work you end up loving.
Thank you for reading and being a part of my journey! Stay safe and stay well out there!
Liked this blog post? Check out more post from this series!
Life During COVID-19 (3/28/2020): Personal Update, Rant and Unemployment
Life During COVID-19 (4/13/20): Poetry for $ and More Poems
Life During COVID-19: Reflecting on the Murder of Robert Fuller, Trump and A Personal Update