Holds Upon Happiness

Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish Poet and Playwright. She was the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019. She says of her poetry, “I like to use simple words, but in a complicated way.” You like safe sounds:the dogs lapping at their bowls;the pop of a cork on a bottle of plonkas your mother cooks;the Match of the Day theme tuneand Doctor Who-oo-oo. Safe sounds:your name called, two happy syllablesfrom the bottom to the top of the house;your daft ring tone; the low gargleof hot water in bubbles. Half asleepin the drifting boat of your bed,you like to hear the big treessound like the sea instead.Safe…

I really enjoy the poetry of e.e. cummings. It sounds like such nonsense but the more you read it the less like nonsense it is. His use of language is so interesting. may my heart always be open to littlebirds who are the secrets of livingwhatever they sing is better than to knowand if men should not hear them men are oldmay my mind stroll about hungryand fearless and thirsty and suppleand even if it's sunday may i be wrongfor whenever men are right they are not youngand may myself do nothing usefullyand love yourself so more than trulythere's never been quite such a fool who could failpulling all the…

There is something magical about fireflies. They are little bugs that light up the world. Every time I see them it reminds me of my childhood and my children’s childhoods. My daughter still, as a full-grown adult, insists on going outside and catching fireflies every summer. Today’s poem is by Linda Pastan. She was the poet laureate of Maryland from 1991 to 1995. Tonight the fireflieslight their briefcandlesin all the treesof summer——color of moonflakescolor of flourescentlacewhere the ocean drags its torn hemover the darksand.JulyLinda Pastan