Back in January we were all amazed and challenged by a young Black woman who stood up at the presidential inauguration and delivered what can only be called (my words) “a mighty poem.”
In just a few short minutes, she captivated a nation and a world with “The Hill We Climb.” The entire text of her poem is easily accessible on the internet. A book of her poems, recently published, sits atop the New York Times bestseller list. Yes. A book of poetry.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it,
if only we’re brave enough to be it.
Those were the closing lines of Amada Gorman’s poem, and they are certainly a challenge to us all.
How about an easier challenge? This is one that involves poetry as well, and a slight hill to climb. But it’s right here in town at the Big Rapids Community Library.
As part of their celebration of April is Poetry Month, the library staff has created a poetry walk. The poems are short — each one fits nicely on a poster-sized stake — and the collection surrounds the Anna Howard Shaw statue and leads to and from the library’s front door. Personally I think that AHS would be quite pleased to be surrounded by such beautiful words for the whole month of April.
After one peruses the poems pleasantly and properly posted, the opportunity to vote for a favorite one is available at the front desk inside the library. Some of the poems will be familiar, as will many of the poets. There may be a surprise or two, but isn’t that always delightful?
And there is “the light” of poetry. It gives us a chance to reflect. It helps us pause and ponder. Each poet has carefully chosen his or her words because part of the challenge of poetry is its brevity. The words must be precise and perfect.
Granted, every poem is not everyone’s cup of tea. We all won’t “get” every poem. But there will be one or two or three that we will “get,” that will speak to us in our hearts, that we will read and then say (maybe not literally) “ahhh.” That is the light of poetry.
Not a floodlight, not a searchlight, but maybe a headlamp in the distance, a flashlight at night, a candle in the window, a lighthouse at sea.
Maybe that’s what we all need at this point in the pandemic, just a little bit of light, something to look forward to, with no physical risk to ourselves or anyone else. A short walk in the park next to the library, the poetry walk to ponder. It’s there through the end of the month. It’s free. It’s outdoors. Who doesn’t need a few moments of diversion from everyday life?
Amanda Gorman asked us "where can we find light in this never-ending shade?" There is a little bit of it at the Big Rapids Community Library.
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April 26, 2021 at 05:13PM
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THE RIVER: The light of poetry - The Pioneer
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