Let us go then, you and I

April is National Poetry Month in Canada and the United States.

My daughter Sara sent me the link to the following poem...I assume it's ok for me to share it on my blog, since the bottom of the Poets.org webpage has links to share on Facebook etc. I love all the imagery and metaphor...

The Sciences Sing a Lullabye by Albert Goldbarth

Physics says: go to sleep. Of course
you're tired. Every atom in you
has been dancing the shimmy in silver shoes
nonstop from mitosis to now.
Quit tapping your feet. They'll dance
inside themselves without you. Go to sleep.

Geology says: it will be all right. Slow inch
by inch America is giving itself
to the ocean. Go to sleep. Let darkness
lap at your sides. Give darkness an inch.
You aren't alone. All of the continents used to be
one body. You aren't alone. Go to sleep.

Astronomy says: the sun will rise tomorrow,
Zoology says: on rainbow-fish and lithe gazelle,
Psychology says: but first it has to be night, so
Biology says: the body-clocks are stopped all over town
and
History says: here are the blankets, layer on layer, down and down.

One of my favourite poets is Kahlil Gibran. I post this particular poem of his for my dear friends Valerie and Mark, who recently celebrated their 22nd anniversary...

On Marriage by Kahlil Gibran, from The Prophet

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

There are tons of poetry sites online, including the League of Canadian Poets, which has a good list of links here. Check out this Poet Laureate Map of Canada - how cool is that?

Whatever your temperament or interests or attention span, there is a poem out there that will sing to your heart - enjoy some poetry today!