Silent Poetry Reading

I saw the following message posted on a fellow blogger's site and couldn't resist the invitation to post another poem on my own blog. Enjoy!

***

Fourth Annual!

What?

A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading

When?

Anytime February 2, 2009

Where?

Your blog

Why?

Some poetry is warming. It cracks the ice in the heart of the Earth to remind her that spring is just around the corner. Or...if you live south of the equator, choose poetry to cool the heart of the Earth so as to remind her fall is coming.

How?

Select a poem you—a favorite poet or one of your own—to post February 2nd.

What else?

Feel free to pass this invitation on to any and all bloggers.

***

I have chosen the following poem from Louise Gluck's collection: "The Wild Iris." I like how you can read this poem from the perspective of the flower...but also apply it to the viewpoint of a human being awakening from a long winter or other trying time.

Snowdrops

By Louise Gluck

Do you know what I was, how I lived? You know

what despair is; then

winter should have meaning for you.

I did not expect to survive,

earth suppressing me. I didn't expect

to waken again, to feel

in damp earth my body

able to respond again, remembering

after so long how to open again

in the cold light

of earliest spring—

afraid, yes, but among you again

crying yes risk joy

in the raw wind of the new world.