You may know that April is National Poetry Month, but did you know that Thursday April 30 is “Poem in Your Pocket” Day? The Academy of American Poets encourages poetry lovers to celebrate by selecting a poem and sharing it with others throughout the day at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, or on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem. I like the picture this poem paints, and its sentiments about language.
The Gift by Louise Gluck
Lord, you may not recognize me
speaking for someone else.
I have a son. He is
so little, so ignorant.
He likes to stand
at the screen door, calling
oggie, oggie, entering
language, and sometimes
a dog will stop and come up
the walk, perhaps
accidently. May he believe
this is not an accident?
At the screen
welcoming each beast
in love’s name, Your emissary.
Please consider sharing a poem you love or that inspires you with a friend on April 30, either directly or via social media.