Friday, March 30, 2012

Poems Along the Way

Photo taken in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

"Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies,
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower—but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, all in all,
I should know what God and man is."

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson


Photo taken in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

 If God sends you down a stony path,
May He give you strong shoes.

~ Irish saying


Photo taken in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

"There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."

~ Leonard Cohen from the song "Anthem"


Photo taken in Central Park, Manhattan

in Just-
                            spring         when the world is mud
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles        far            and wee

 
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful


~ e.e. cummings -- from the poem "in just"


Photo taken in Marine Park, Brooklyn

"Winter's done, and April's in the skies,
Earth, look up with laughter in your eyes!"


~  Charles G. D. Roberts, from the poem "An April Adoration"




April is Poetry Month.  The Poets.Org web site states: "Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture."

I've always enjoyed reading poetry and I'd like to share some of my favorite poems from time to time this month on my blog, pairing them with a favorite photograph that I've taken, as I have done today.

How will you celebrate Poetry Month?  Check this link to see 30 suggestions on how to share a poem.




I'm linking this post to the "Pink Saturday" event on Beverly's blog How Sweet The Sound, and "Seasonal Sundays" on The Tablescaper blog, Tina's "Weekend Flowers"and "Scenic Sundays."  Thank you to all the blog hosts!


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53 comments:

Tina´s PicStory said...

how lovely :)

Chatty Crone said...

Poetry month - I didn't know it was. But I like what you did and the pictures you put with them - especially the tulips those are so pretty! sandie

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What wonderful poems! I do love poetry....

Your photos are beautiful too!

Grace said...

Poetry Month? That is so wonderful and I did not know. You always have the most interesting posts. Happy Pink Saturday.
Congratulations to your family the baby is 1 and your daughter's shower. How wonderful. Grace xoox

ellen b. said...

Oh I hope I remember that April is poetry month. I really enjoyed your photos and the poems you paired them with. The Irish saying is great...

Liz said...

Wow, the colour of the tulips is really PINK! Love that colour!! Liz

Nellie said...

What wonderful pictures - and perfect poetry you chose for them!

LV said...

We have a garden similar to that here and even larger one in Dallas. They are a glorious sight to see.

Vee said...

All my favorite poems are about autumn so I usually share them then. What great ones you've shared with us today. I'll look into it...

Pamela Gordon said...

Lovely poems and photos. I can see why April is a poetry month as it's most beautiful with new life. Have a blessed weekend! Pamela

Unknown said...

Hi Pat,
I love poetry,and you certainly have found some lovely words to match your beautiful photographs. I see you are having the same kind of weather in New York that we are enjoying in Massachusetts. Crazy really, my white blossom tree is in full bloom, but we're expecting a bit of snow tomorrow.

Have a gorgeous weekend.
Karen

Linda said...

Wonderful poems to go with great pictures...I love the Irish sayings...they have some great ones!! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh how I loved your beautiful photos and the poems you chose to support 'em.

I totally enjoyed this post today sweetie!!!

God bless ya and have yourself a magnificent weekend!!! :o)

podso said...

Nice! A blog is a wonderful way to share favorite poetry, and the photos to illustrate just add to it! I know you area busy with lots of fun things going on! Have a wonderful weekend!

Old Kitty said...

Oh wow!! thanks for these gorgeous snippets of poetry!! Happy happy happy Poetry month!! Take care
x

Carole M. said...

my favourites, the stone photographs

Ginny Hartzler said...

I LOVE poetry, especially e.e. Cummings. Your large rock with the crack down the middle is an amazing picture, I wonder what happened to it? Beautiful pink tulips.

Carol said...

Love the poetry you've shared and the photo's. Perfect together. Enjoyed your post!

Lynn said...

Pretty pics, love the tulips at the end. Happy Weekend:@)

Barbara F. said...

What a great idea, Pat. Actually, your photos are rather poetic and need no words! xo

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love these poems and would like to do a post on poems, too! I'll have to put my thinking cap on! Enjoy your weekend!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your beautiful space!
Sensitivity is a second heart that God said to some people!
The pictures are beautiful!
Elaine
Brazil

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great poems, Pat... AND I love the photos to go with them.. The one which caught my attention was the one about everything having cracks to let the light in.... I definitely feel as if I am full of cracks and flaws.... Neat!!!!!

Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

GailO said...

Wonderful poems Pat! and what a great link for Poetry month! Thanks!

Sarah said...

Absolutely love this one, Pat. Your images are gorgeous, and the quotes are perfectly paired.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat,
what a small world!!
Here we meet again at one of Tina's meme:)
Loved your post and flower pictures.
- Cheers Gisela
Here is on of my favourite poems...
"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into."
- Henry Ward Beecher,

diane b said...

Love the tulips. "Friends are like flowers they brighten your day."

Snap said...

Fun post! I'll have to think about April being poetry month ... hmmmmmmm!!! Love the poems and photos. Well done (as usual) .... ox

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Beautiful photos!

Pat said...

Love all the poetry... enjoyed reading A Child's Garden of Verses to my children and looking forward to reading these lovely poems to my granddaughters. After a dull winter, those gorgeous tulips are bright, bright, bright!!

Ola said...

you are having a wonderful spring already! (here it started snowing again:)
Life and travelling
Cooking

From the Kitchen said...

Lovely--the poetry and the photos. I'm happy for the reminder of poetry month and will share some of my favorites along the way.

Best,
Bonnie

Joe Todd said...

Lovely post. Will check out your pinterest site

Judy said...

Love your pick of poems for this post...and the pic's to go with them!

Anonymous said...

Loved the post and the pots are just terrific.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

what a gift you have for photography and for finding just the right words to go with the photos. i especially love the photo with violets and the poem about the light coming through the crack. sage words to remember.

Jeanne said...

Hi Pat, I too have always loved poetry. You shared some lovely poems today. The pink tulips are so pretty. I 'am' planting tulips this fall. They say the deer will eat them but I want to try anyway.

I will be looking for some favorite poems to share this month.

Hugs, Jeanne

Chubskulit Rose said...

Absolutely fabulous and gorgeous!

Visiting a little late for Pink Saturday. My entry is a product of creativity. Have a great weekend!

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Pretty pictures... pretty word... pretty post!
Yvonne

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the affection of presence!
Be always welcome!
I loved your space!
Beautiful poem.

If I may I'm following you!
Have a happy Sunday!
Elaine
Brazil

Mary said...

Hi Pat~ I love how you paired the poetry with your beautiful photos at the Botanic Garden! Your photo of the violets growing between the rocks is delightful :)

Jojo said...

Loved being reminded about the crack. It's hard to see a stone wall without thinking of the Secret Lives of Bees. What secrets are held within the wall cracks.

Jackie McGuinness said...

Leonard Cohen is my all-time favourite writer and singer.

I just photographed some of my rocks yesterday which have developed cracks just like that one.

Lovella ♥ said...

Those are beautiful spring poems Pat. Thank you for sharing them together with those beautiful photos.

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Hi Pat, beautiful photos and I love the ee cummings poem! They need to be read aloud to really appreciate the sounds. I checked out the link of 30 ideas and I am going to try some. Today I'm taking that poem with me when I go walking with the hubby and dog for his hip exercise. I also like the idea to take a poem to lunch. I'm not sure I would ever have the nerve to write a note to a poet though!! I would not like to think of such a word artist reading my sentences!!! Thanks for the inspirations! Linda

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I love the poem about the crack :) Great post, Pat!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

The photos are lovely and so are the poems. Tennyson is my favourite.

nanny said...

Ditto.....I love your photos and the poems. You put so much thought and work into your posts, they are great.

thanks for telling me about picasa. I downloaded it, made a collage, but don't know how to get it to my blog/ha are there instructions anywhere?

Sheila said...

The photos you chose to illustrate your favourite poetry are perfect. It's a great idea, Pat! Enjoy the lovely spring days that will be with you through April!

Jeanie said...

Beautiful poetry. Even more beautiful photos -- especially those violets in the rocks. How very sweetly I am smiling right now!

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday, Pat. I love this posts, and I love the poems you shared with us. I learned to love poetry as a young child, and that love was nurtured by some wonderful teachers along the way.

Cynthia said...

I love Poetry Month, and especially sharing on Poem in Your Pocket Day (April 26th). Leonard Cohen is also one of my favorites. . .Love your pictures, they go so well with the poems you selected.

Claudia said...

Just warmed my heart and soul. In the end, I never did make it to the gardens - the days were so blustery and sometimes rainy. We did do walks in Central Park. I also love pairing photos with poetry and love what you came up with - such a joyful spirit you have.