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National Poetry Month

Community Poem 2024

Photograph of the 2024 National Poetry Month collaborative poem.

Photograph of the 2024 National Poetry Month collaborative poem.

Photograph of the 2024 National Poetry Month collaborative poem.

...and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

and with your curiosity take

in the siren's song, mind teeming

fathom the depths, chart leagues of 

memories---slip through sea-walls

row row row the boat

you can't struggle eternally

The sailors quiver when the siren sings

how bottomless are the depths to which he goes

Depths in distance, more inside

During a summer eclipse, I averted my gaze, afraid, and found crescents

in the shade, and concrete celestial amazement

my brain is numb

When the warm winds call me out to the sea,

Sometimes, most times, that's exactly where I want to be.

Over the hills and through the sea

gently down the stream

Perfection is a limitless experience, remember this,

my beautiful gem, when tears stream as goat yoga

ends and you can't suss out that man, graduation isn't the end.

don't forget, you can stand back up.

Eres mi luz cuando las sombras me abrazan [You are my light when the shadows embrace me*]

Someone loves you.

Sko buffs                           Scheherazade

Keep your head up                   planetarium

Continue falling. Mistakes were made.

Water my blood my/your/our life not ever

absent present always flowing---softness

that moves mountains

Who named the numberless shades of green?

Who stopped to linger in the path?

Who saw the world in a blade of grass?

[The moon is beautiful.]

Follow the footprints     inside the nerve cell;

they lead to a bright

door: tiny patch of memory

Now I sit here broken-hearted...

I came to poo and only farted

You and I have parted

Forever disregarded

Yet, the day has only started

Wrapped candy sets it all afoot

 

 

*Translated from the original language.

 

About National Poetry Month 2024


This year’s celebration takes as inspiration the poem "blessing the boats" by Lucille Clifton, and its final lines:

“...and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that"

Community members were invited to visit the East Entrance of Norlin Library on April 9-10, 2024 to create poetry in community, engage with librarians and receive a pocket poem to carry throughout the day. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!