New: Poetry’s Pleasures Class and a Poem

A new poetry class, “The Pleasures of Poetry” will meet November 27-December 18 on Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. at  the Library with JoEllen Moldoff as Facilitator.

Reading poetry with openness and imagination can enlarge our lives. Responding to poems in the company of others offers the opportunity to increase our awareness and appreciation of the way the poems work.

This 4-week class welcomes all who are interested in poetry, as readers and/or as writers. We will focus on a different poet each week. Optional writing assignments will be offered.

Fee: $10 to cover library and copying cost. Payable at first session. There is no advance registration.

Mindful

by Mary Oliver

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for–
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world–
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant–
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these–
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?