It’s the third Thursday of December and that can mean just one thing…it’s the day to share a poem!
December is a month that overflows with poetry for me. Maybe it is the darker mornings, maybe it is the twinkle lights, maybe it is the season… but December finds me steeped in poetry.
I treated myself to two new poetry books this month. I picked up Billy Collins Musical Tables and I had pre-ordered Pádraig Ó Tuama’s Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World, which was released on December 6th.
I am saving the Poetry Unbound volume to read next year… I will read one poem and essay for 50 weeks and I am very much looking forward to this addition to my poetry reading!
However, I have been unable to put down Billy Collins new book of poems! I have read it through twice and I am on my third time through currently. It is so, so good. If you think that poetry is not for you, try Billy Collins… he makes poetry fun, easy to read, but with just enough for you to think about after you have read one of his poems! And if you want to listen to a delightful interview where NPR’s Scott Simon talks with Collins about his new book of poems, you will find it here (it starts at 7:58).
Today, my selection is from Musical Tables with a very appropriate for the season poem.
Crèche
by Billy Collins
For a moment,
the ox and a sheep
looked over at each other,
then they turned away
and went back
to adoring the Child.
Billy Collins: Musical Tables © 2022. Published by Random House, Penguin Random House LLC
A huge thanks to Bonny for hosting us all today, please stop by and see what poems have been shared! And I would like to encourage you all to pick up a poetry book and read a poem or two… you might even find one that you’d like to share one with us because we’d love to have you join us!
Happy Thursday everyone!
This is a lovely poem and I can almost see it! I just put my manger out earlier this week, and now I can picture the ox and sheep looking at each other and then back over to the Child. Thanks for sharing the poem today and the excellent poetry book recommendations!
Beautiful.
Thanks for the Billy Collins reccy. I just ordered a copy sent to the woman who conducts our “poetry for those who don’t get it” class as a thank you for how she has made me rethink poetry.
Billy Collins . . . is the most accessible poet EVER. I just adore him. (I picked up his new collection just the other day – a little gift to ME – but haven’t cracked it you. Can’t wait!) XO
I think I heard that this new volume contains only poems that are really short? Sounds very accessible to me — and I also love the idea that poetry can be just a handful of words.
Thank you for the reminder that I need to include a small volume of poetry in my selection of books to take on vacation. If there’s every a time to enjoy poetry, it’s when I have plenty of time to sit and really enjoy it!
gorgeous poem, I love this time of year!