April - National Poetry Month

Hi readers. Did you know that April is National Poetry month? I say cheers for poetry, now and forever. Here are three I like. Enjoy!

Who Has Seen the Wind?

“Who Has Seen the Wind?” is a favorite of mine that my mother used to recite to me when I was a kid. It’s by Christina Rossetti (1830—1894). The Poetry Foundation tells us: “Christina became one of the Victorian age’s finest poets. She was the author of numerous books of poetry, including Goblin Market and other Poems (1862), The Prince’s Progress (1866), A Pageant (1881), and The Face of the Deep (1882).”

The poem was first published in 1851. It is now in the public domain, so I will copy it here.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you.
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I.
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

You can also read the poem here → Who Has Seen the Wind?

Delta

“Delta” is by Adrienne Rich, which I keep posted by my desk. The Poetry Foundation tells us “During her life, poet and essayist Adrienne Rich was one of America’s foremost public intellectuals. Widely read and hugely influential, Rich’s career spanned seven decades and has hewed closely to the story of post-war American poetry itself.”

“Delta” is from her book, Time’s Power: Poems 1985-1988

Read it here → “Delta”

Place

“Place” is a tender poem by W.S. Merwin. It, too, is one I keep by my desk. From the Poetry Foundation we learn, “In a career spanning five decades, poet, translator, and environmental activist W. S. Merwin has become one of the most honored and widely read poets in America.”

It is from his book, The Rain in the Trees.

Read it here → “Place” by W. S. Merwin – Words … for the Time Being

Thanks for reading!

Your writer on the wing,

Charlene