No man is an island,Entire of itself,Every man is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manor of thy friend’sOr of thine own were:Any man’s death diminishes me,Because I am involved in …Read More
Tag: Poetry
Good Timber ~ Douglas Malloch
Today’s inspiration comes from “The Lumberman’s Poet” as he was affectionately known. Douglas Malloch grew up in Michigan among logging camps and lumber yards. He wrote this poem when he was just a boy. As I scale the mountains and descend into the valleys of life, this poem reminds me that trees (and people) grow …Read More
Brandon Leake brings Spoken Word to AGT
Emotions bottled up can lead to explosions. Young men are often not allowed to have their range of emotions. The tears of sadness are ridiculed. Toxic shame hides under the bravado. There is no place for fear. Anger masquerades as strength holding back the pain of bottled up sadness and shame. This leaves two acceptable …Read More
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night ~ Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953) achieved popularity in his lifetime as a drunken ill-fated lost poet, a reputation that he encouraged, until his early death at 39 years old. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, perhaps his most famous poem, calls forth the tenacity of the human spirit. Do Not Go Gentle Into …Read More
The Road Not Taken ~ Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken —by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps …Read More
Pacing the Cage ~ Bruce Cockburn
Sometimes the best map will not guide you You can’t see what’s round the bend Sometimes the road leads through dark places Sometimes the darkness is your friend ~ by Bruce Cockburn, Pacing the Cage To anyone out there feeling stuck, Canadian singer and songwriter, Bruce Cockburn, speaks to the darkness. There is a haunting beauty …Read More
Rafael Campo, Physician-Poet
Marvelous, the body’s workmanship, how perfect is its service to the soul it shelters, each soft hair along the shin enshrining touch, this way we’re made to need each other’s care. ~ Rafael Campo, Physician-Poet Today Rafael Campo is a primary-care physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and …Read More
Twas the Night Before Tax Day ~ Glen Davis
Twas the Night Before Tax Day ~ By Glen Davis (April 15, 2003) ‘Twas the night before Tax Day, when all through the nation many creatures were stirring, due to procrastination. The receipts were stuffed in a box without care, in case of an audit, they all would be there. The children were nestled all …Read More
Poem: The Tiger ~ William Blake
“The Tiger” by William Blake (1757-1827) Tiger Tiger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, and …Read More
Dead is Dead ~ by Alan Balter
Dead Is Dead ~ by Alan Balter Published: April 2017 When somebody dies, folks hardly ever say “dead.” They prefer “expired” or “departed” instead. Most of the euphemisms don’t do any harm, Like “biting the dust” or “buying the farm.” There are “fallen off the perch” and “given up the ghost.” “Taking a dirt nap” …Read More