Today is National Poem in Your Pocket Day. I love that this is a thing now. I love poems, all manner of them, short, long, rhyming, oblique. Each poem is a wrapped piece of candy I can never get enough of. The idea of NPIYPD is that you carry a poem in your pocket to share with others. I didn’t leave my house today, so I’ll use this post as my pocket.
A Poem in Every Pocket
Imagine a plaza
where some people sit on squat pedestals,
and some people are
talking/walking/milling about,
but all are carrying this secret:
that their pockets are filled
with poems only they
know all the words to.— Mary Pierce
That is my little poem. It is also my wish. If you have a poem you are carrying around today I’d love it if you would share it with me.
A Wilderness of Words 
I have never heard of this. But the idea is great.
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If you click on the link in the first sentence it will tell you about it. It’s an American initiative, started in New York City in 2002 and promoted nationally by the Acadamy of American Poets starting in 2008. It’s a lovely idea. You should start it there in Manchester! Everyone should carry a poem in their pocket.
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I have just read about something in ?Manchester, called Pass On a Poem. People gather to read out a poem, but it cannot be one written by themselves.
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what an amazing idea, I wish it was more widespread in England, I recon a lot of teens and romantics would enjoy something like this
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You and Andy (comment above yours) should give promoting the idea a go over on your side of the pond. I’m surprised there isn’t already something like it there. You have so much wonderful poetry!
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oh I will for sure! I must get some things going over the summer holidays, thanks for the inspiration!
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Drat! It slipped my mind…. The only poems that come to mind are “The Homework Machine” by Shel Silverstein and “Homework! Oh, homework!” by Jack Prelutsky. I’ll share with my kids tomorrow. You inspire me! Have a wonderful day.
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Good to know I inspire someone, Clay. You’re kind for saying so. I saw your blog post and poem on your site. Excellent. I forget to ask, are you going to give your students a break from homework on May 6th?
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Here is one of Bu’gan’zei’s poems, from Beneath the Mountain of Heavy Fear. Bu’gan’zei is the Orpheus character and he is speaking to charm the Cerberus character:
Soul of the lands beneath the Tree, Holy Coiling Guardian …
Let me call you with my soul …
Let me speak of your fierce beauty …
Yak’roit’zei of the Mountain, do not harm us who come seeking …
In Cave-darkness your light shines from within, Holy Coiling Guardian …
Let me cry into your life-cave …
Let me praise your dangerous beauty …
Yak’roit’zei of the Root, harm not us who harm not you …
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Lorinda, I really like that poem. It has wonderful rhythm to it, very Native American sounding. Is Beneath the Mountain one of your stories? Thanks for sharing it with me.
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Mary Oliver today…
The Uses of Sorrow
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
(by Mary Oliver, from Thirst, Beacon Press, Boston, 2006)
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I actually looked for a Mary Oliver poem to include in the post. I ended up spending the better part of a day just reading poetry. In the end, I decided to go with one of my own because there were just too many wonderful poems out there. It was impossible to choose.
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Oh, I love this! Just absolutely love it.
I don’t have a poem in my pocket right now, but I will certainly think on it before bed and smile with you in my heart. Thank you, Mary!
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Thanks, Michelle. Even though the day has passed, you can still put a poem in your pocket. You never know when it might be just the thing you need.
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Love, love, love this post, Mary, and am sharing with my friends on FB.
My book group used to have an annual poetry night. Many of us were introduced to poetry and learned that there is much to love. For me, I enjoy poetry that I can understand and tells me a little story. Your “Poem In Every Pocket” is lovely.
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Aww, thanks, Laurie. Aren’t you sweet. I mostly relate to poetry that tells a story. I am a sucker for a good story of any kind. But sometimes I read for the sheer joy of language. Like this one:
SONG BESIDE A SIPPY CUP
In the never truly ever
truly dark dark night, ever
blinds-zipped, slat-cut,
dark-parked light,
you (late) touch my toes
with your broad flat own
horny-nailed cold toes.
Clock-tock, wake-shock.
In the ever truly never
truly long long night, our
little snoring-snarling
wild-child mild-child
starling-darling wakes every
two, three (you-sleep) hours,
in the never truly ever
truly lawn brawn fawn dawn.
by Jenny Factor
I love reading that one out loud. Also, it brings back such memories of new baby sleepless nights.
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Mary, I love this post and idea. I’m a day late but may carry a poem with me just the same! Love the photo too!
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Thanks, Mae. You should absolutely carry a poem, regardless of the day.
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I love it! Here is a haiku I wrote the other day:
in the afterlife…
what if it turns out that I’m
weird in heaven too?
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Thanks, Jen. Your haiku is perfect. Just perfect. And not at all surprising. 🙂
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Like Clay. The first poem that comes to mind?
I eat my peas with honey
I done it all my life …
Lovely idea.
Also a Mary Oliver fan.
“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
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I think of that Mary Oliver quote often. I need to make a poster of it and hang it in my office. As for peas and honey: I’m a huge Ogden Nash fan, but eww . . . no to the peas with honey!
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There is such a ferocious and beautiful ambition to your words. I fall in love with them, every single time.
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You are my kindest commenter, Mr. Thorn, and I thank you for that.
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Hi Mary, I just announced something on my blog. I thought I’d tell you as you are one of the ones I refer to. And thank you.
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