April brings a lot of beauty. This month rings in celebrations and commemorations of jazz, kindness to animals—and poetry. To mark the month, I wanted to share some of my favorite verses.
See what you think. Then send me your favorites, too. Please!
“To those born later,” Bertolt Brecht
Hatred, even of meanness,
Contorts the features.
Anger, even against injustice
Makes the voice hoarse. Oh, we
Who wanted to prepare the ground for friendliness
Could not ourselves be friendly.
But you, when the time comes at last and man is a helper to man
Think of us with forbearance.
Click here to read more. (And try replacing ‘man’ with ‘woman’ in that last verse.)
“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers – (314),” Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
“Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” Wendell Berry
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won’t compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Susan Rubin 