Poetry in My Life

I know, I know...April was National Poetry Month.  However, the power of poetry never ceases to amaze me, whether it is the obscure and moving poems of e.e. cummings, the poem about poems in Sharon Creech's Love That Dog, or the celebration of every day simplicities artfully crafted by William Carlos Williams.

The nose-picker in "Warning"

The gateway to poetry for many children is Shel Silverstein.  I totally get it.  He gives kids poems about picking your nose and forgetting to wear pants.  I have been reading Shel to my kids for a couple months now.  We've made our way through A Light in the Attic and we are currently devouring Where the Sidewalk Ends.  Today we read a couple of poems that I guess I forgot about.  The man had something to say, that is for sure.  "Snowman" took me by surprise the most.  Have you read this?  Man, I put it down and looked up to the other grown up in the room and asked, "Does that make you want to cry as much as it makes me want to?"  The nod and the frown confirmed my feelings.

On this Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial welcoming of summer, here is the poignant poem.  It is a reminder of all we get to witness in life, to never give up on your dreams, and to keep on keeping on...even when what you want the most seems impossible.

Snowman

Twas the first day of springtime,
And the snowman stood alone
As the winter snows were melting
And the pine trees seemed to groan,
“Ah, you poor sad smiling snowman,
You’ll be melting by and by.”
Said the snowman,”What a pity,
For I’d like to see July.
Yes, I’d like to see July, and please don’t ask me why.
But I’d like to, yes I’d like to, oh I’d like to see July.

Chirped a robin just arriving,
“Seasons come and seasons go,
And the greatest ice crumble
When it’s flowers’ time to grow.
And as one thing is beginning
So another thing must die,
And there’s never been a snowman
Who has ever seen July.
No, they never see July, no matter how they try.
No, they never ever, never ever, never see July.”

But the snowman sniffed his carrot nose
And said, “At least I’ll try,”
And he bravely smiled his frosty smile
And blinked his coal black eye.
And there he stood and faced the sun
A blazin’ from the sky—
And I really cannot tell you
If he ever saw July.
Did he ever see July? You can guess as well as I
If he ever, if he never, if he ever saw July.