While browsing through poems to share with my boys’
classes for Poem in Your Pocket Day in April, I was struck yet again by the
power of concise, focused poetry. I have always been drawn toward shorter
poems, simply because I am fascinated by how some writers have the ability to create
such powerful poetry from so few words. Reading a well-written short poem is
like looking through a camera lens and zooming in on your subject with the auto
focus turned on.
Here is a beautiful example, in this poem by Robert
Frost:
Dust of Snow
by Robert Frost (1874-1963)
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
My very favorite example of a short, focused poem is
"This is Just to Say"
by William Carlos Williams (1883-1963). (Follow this link to read it: This is Just to Say)
Another great example is “Window” by Carl Sandburg (1878-1967). (Follow this link to read it: Window)
What is your favorite short poem?
Happy Writing!
I really liked all three- but, man, Robert Frost. I love that guy! I bought a pic book of Stoppig by Woods on a Snowy Evening for my little guy for when he's older, one of my all time fav poems.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of my very favorites, too, Leandra! = )
Delete*Thank You* for the Robert Frost poem.... Perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mirka! = )
DeleteI went in search of a short poem, this one gave me a chuckle.
ReplyDeleteThe Optimist by Benjamin Franklin
The optimist fell ten stories.
At each window bar
He shouted to his friends:
"All right so far."
I LOVE this, Betsy! Thanks for sharing! = )
DeleteGreat examples of focused short poems. "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams is one of my all time favorites. =)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bridget! = )
DeleteGreat poem! Thanks for sharing it -- I hadn't read it before. Here's a favorite shortie of mine:
ReplyDeleteA Blank White Page
by Francisco X. Alarcón
A blank white page
is a meadow
after a snowfall
that a poem
hopes to cross
This is wonderful, Tabatha! Thanks so much for sharing it! = )
DeleteA belated thank you for this post. Short and sweet is definitely my cup o' tea as well, and I've loved all the little gems posted here, including those in the comments!
ReplyDelete