It's the New Year-Try Something Different

                                       

                                           'Well, so that is that.  Now we must dismantle the tree,
                                            Putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes-
Some have got broken-and carrying them up to the attic.
The holly and the mistletoe must be taken down and burnt,
And the children got ready for school.  There are enough
Left-overs to do, warmed-up, for the rest of the week-'

That is an excerpt from one of my favorite poems, W.H. Auden's "For the Time Being".  I think it captures the post-holiday mood perfectly-back to routine, which is somehow depressing and reassuring at the same time. This poem speaks to me.

 For whatever reason, many of us never get past Shel Silverstein in the second grade so far as reading poetry goes. But if you scan the library's poetry section (which is rather vast), you will find some interesting items.

I recently found this little gem on the library shelves:

It may say 'Minnesota' in the title, but any Northlander will appreciate these lines from "Spring in Duluth" by Elvira T. Johnson:

                                   I cry aloud that wind and sleet and storm
                                   Have been my bosom cronies much too long!

This is exactly my mood come April.

If you're a hip cat you might prefer the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets anthology 'Beat Poets'.  How about this by Lew Welch-
                               
                          I know a man's supposed to have his hair cut short,

                          but I have beautiful hair.
                          I like to let it grow into a long bronze mane.

Well, I can hardly blame him! Hard to believe that this was once counter-cultural.  How the times have changed. The Everyman's Library Pocket Poets is a nicely edited series with poems on lots of subjects-you may have seen the Christmas Poems edition in my last post. Also they have nice covers. (Yes, I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I do judge a book by its cover.)

For a nice selection in one volume, Garrison Keillor's 'Good Poems' is very accessible.  You may have heard some of these poems on The Writer's Almanac on NPR.

So give poetry a chance.  Ask any of the librarians where the poetry section is. Hopefully you will spend some happy time browsing the shelves on your next visit to the library. I hope you find something that speaks to you. 

                         by Librarian Mary