National Poetry Month

I spend a great deal of time on this blog talking about books. At this point, it should be no secret that I love books. I know, I know. I'll give you a moment to overcome your shock. Have you regained your composure? Done telling all your friends that bit of breaking news? Okay. :)

What some people may or may not know is I really love poetry as well. Really, really love it. I adore the feeling of taking a piece of poetry and work through it and really understand it. I love going back to it again and again, looking at the imagery, appreciating the line breaks, the amazing choice of words - you get the picture.

That brings us to April. You may or may not know that this is National Poetry Month. I usually acknowledge that it is a cool thing and then move on my merry little way. But I really want to get back to poetry, experiencing that thrill of reading an amazing poem. Maybe, if I'm feeling extraordinarily brave, I'll share some I've written. And, sometime this month, I'll be writing a lovely piece of exceptionally cheesy poetry for my sister through marriage (I hate that in law part) because of her accomplishments in the MMM.

What does this have to do with you? Well, the poems that I have really grown to love over the years will be featured here. I figure you are more likely to read a poem if it is posted on a blog than if I were to just tell you to go here (but if you are interested, they are emailing a poem a day during April). And, if you are like me, sometimes it is nice to have direction if you are experiencing something new instead of being overwhelmed by the thousands of something someone loves.

How often will this happen? Who knows. Chances are pretty decent that during the week of April 19, pretty often because I have to administer end of level tests, stay in the room for 87 minutes at a time but do pretty much nothing. And that is the week I'm set to defend my thesis so I'll need some escapism (Why am I nervous? No clue. I did a good job. It'll be fine...it'll be fine...it'll be fine...)

Tied in with this, I have been wanting for the last few years to go back and really spend some time with Mr. Eliot (T. S. that is - notice the initials?) So I'm going to work through The Wasteland off and on through this month. It's a doozy, and I studied it once before, but that was before I had kids and forgot where part of my brain went. (Tiana, if you are reading this I may be coming to you to see if you have more of your brain left that I do...:)

If you have a favorite poem, please let me know in the comments and I'll add it to the mix. Or feature it on your blog. Either way, it should be some nerdy poetic fun.