I love poetry - reading a poem is like reading someones secret thoughts, they are so personal and reveal something of the true essence of the person. Poems ususally touch on something common in mankind and I love it when I go - yes, I feel that way too, or that's the way I see it as well. Its not always possible to complete a book, or find the time to read consistently, but everyone can find time to read a poem at the end of a busy day. Here are a couple of poems which my really cool neighbour brought to my attention.
HOW TO GROW UP
Hold on to everything horrible.
Jettison everything nice.
When you are shown something beautiful
Look at the price
Eat something boring for breakfast.
Watch television all night.
Stop being scared of the darkness.
Start being scared of the light.
Start liking money for money's sake,
Not for what money can do.
Never look out of an aeroplane.
Always complain to the crew.
Make yourself glummer and glummer.
Spend your time scowling and be,
Smack in the middle of summer,
A grumpy old bastard like me.
KEVIN Mc GEE
SURVIVOR
Everyday I think about dying
About disease, starvation,
violence, terrorism, war,
the end of the wold.
It helps keep my mind off things.
ROGER Mc GOUGH
They are both from the book 'Real Cool' Poems to Grow Up With, edited by Niall Mac Monagle. I have been enjoying this book as I am in the habit of being an old romantic and reading Keats and Tennsyson and the like and its good to read something modern! Thank you Kathy!
I remember seeing "How to Grow Up" pinned to the side of a bookcase in a classroom back in about 1994... that third verse always stuck with me. Just tried googling it again (not for the first time!) and found this blog entry. So thanks for that :)
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