I treated myself to an anthology of poems, Poetry is not a Luxury: Poems for all Seasons (which was edited by the curator of @poetryisnotaluxury on Instagram) and have been working through the winter section with great delight.
One poem by Fanny Howe has been calling me back to it since I read it in early January. It is short. It is simple. And I have it memorized. (and I think the best thing that this poem urges one to do is talk about our own letters now… today!)
[I won’t be able to write from the grave]
by Fanny Howe
I won’t be able to write from the grave
so let me tell you what I love:
oil, vinegar, salt, lettuce, brown bread, butter,
cheese and wine, a windy day, a fireplace,
the children sleeping nearby, poems and songs,
a friend sleeping in my bed—
and the short northern nights.
[I won’t be able to write from the grave] from Fanny Howe: Selected Poems. Copyright © 2000.
You can find more information about the prolific poetess, Fanny Howe, here. And you will find more poetry here… a huge thanks to Bonny for gathering us together today!
A bit of an ironic aside today with a bonus poem… this week, we lost The Reverend Jesse Jackson and that saddens me so deeply. I liked Jesse Jackson very much and I believe his work leveled out the path a bit for Barack Obama. Anyways, way back in 1972 he was on Sesame Street and shared a powerful poem with the Sesame Street kids. It moved me when I first heard him recite it some years later but it is most especially moving hearing him share it with those kids. Thanks to the deep well of YouTube, I am sharing it with you today. The poem was written by the Rev. William Holmes Borders, Sr. Reverend Jackson recited this poem often… I think you will see why:
Rest in peace, Reverend Jackson, rest in peace.
I love this poem! Those things match up pretty closely to what I love, but it also makes me want to ask the people in my life to write their own “what I love” poem. That book sounds pretty amazing and I may need my own copy.
I remember Jesse Jackson reading Green Eggs and Ham on SNL but I didn’t know he was on Sesame Street. Thanks for sharing all of these treasures and making this a great morning for poetry!
I feel like I say this a lot with regard to poetry, but I’m continually impressed by how much poets can say with so few words. And this poem does that so well, capturing the simple pleasures of life that can be so enjoyable.
I am also mourning the loss of Jesse Jackson. That Sesame Street clip should be shown to all children!
Thanks for the double joy with two poems on this crisp winter day.
Two perfect poems, Kat! XO
Two wonderful poems. Now I want to write a What do I love poem of my own.