What is your favourite poem (s)

[Josie]

To widen horizons and perhaps to introduce people to writers whose work, perhaps, we may not have read, please tell us your favourite poem or poems - - - perhaps one at a time, ha ha.

[Moore]

I often read poetry in foreign languages and I like Russian poetry, Indian poetry and so on.

[Phil]

Hi Guys

I just joined the forum today, recently having published my first book 'Forever 21' through Authorhouse so as you might expect i'm trying to advertise it.

Here's one of the shortest called 'Ability'

Sometimes life it can seem a little rough
and just when you think you’ve had enough
Your strength of character will pull you through
believe me if I can do it, you can too

It seems like you’re forever running up hills
wading through marsh, things can seem harsh
but you know what they say, ‘where there’s a will
there’s a way’

Always have faith in your ability
and never lose sight of where you want to be
Always have faith in your ability
Have belief in yourself and you will see

There’s good, there’s bad
there’s fun times, there’s sad
Life has its’ ups and downs
ride those waves and turn things around

Some say there can be too many restraints
Now is your time to break free from those chains
keep on trying and you will succeed
for your time is now to be freed

Life’s for living
you can’t give it up
Life’s for giving
so drink from the cup
Enjoy yourself today
and don’t let others stand in your way

Copyright 2009 Phil McClean. All rights reserved.

Hope you like it!

There are 80 poems/songs in total, covering all sorts of topics: protest, love, pure fiction, humour and thought-provoking issues of the day. You can look inside at books.google or Amazon etc.

Regards

Phil

[Karri]

My favourite poems are both ones I heard as a child and have stuck with me since:

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour,
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down today.
Nothing gold can stay.
by Robert Frost

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least,
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state
(Like to the Lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with Kings.
Sonnet XXIX by William Shakespeare

[lagym888]

i have always loved the poems of adrienne rich. they are so "alive" for me.

[we_olive_beatrix]

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour,
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down today.
Nothing gold can stay.
by Robert Frost

I'm a Robert Frost fan as well, this poem has got me through many a depressing time, it's very inspirational. In fact, an appointment is booked for me to have the last four lines of this poem tattooed on my ribcage--

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

[acluett89]

It is only when I read this poem that I actually see some value in the cold and darkness of winter.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

[Viddanu]

Well...I've been fond of this poem for quite awhile, but it's a short one and I'm not sure who the original author is. I originally found it on some obscure site online.

WHAT I NEED

What I need
is a small plot of land
that expands and contracts
to my desires
like an elastic band
with the sun, sea, and flowers
birds, mountains, and sands.

Yes, what I need
is a small plot of land.
There'd be folk that I liked,
who liked me too.
Yes, this magic plot of land
would very nicely do.

[book_reader]

WHAT I NEED

What I need
is a small plot of land
that expands and contracts
to my desires
like an elastic band
with the sun, sea, and flowers
birds, mountains, and sands.

Yes, what I need
is a small plot of land.
There'd be folk that I liked,
who liked me too.
Yes, this magic plot of land
would very nicely do.

Very well said.

[Fran]

Memory by W B Yeats

ONE had a lovely face,
And two or three had charm,
But charm and face were in vain
Because the mountain grass
Cannot but keep the form
Where the mountain hare has lain.

[Josie]

If any of you have children, in particular, please do bring them to my poetry website. I am quite a new writer, but am about to have 330 of my poems published in five books and they will be going into schools. A small animated film has also been made of one of my poems "The Wizard of Alderley Edge". When I joined Book & Reading Forums, never in a million years did I expect this to happen. The poems were chosen by many teachers in the area in which I live last year and they are with an educational publisher. So please let people with children know of the website and also tell teachers that you know of. Thanks a lot. I hope you enjoy them yourself. Just Google: JOSIE'S POEMS (which will be on all my books) and you will find them. There are many poems that are not for small children. I write for all ages.

[website-design-seo]

Every one has it's own choice,but I really like Hindi..and that is my choice also..

[artrepro]

The Ocean is one of my favorite poems, but I forgot its writer.

The Ocean

I stand on the ocean shore,
watching the waves go by.
The sun is going down but I don’t leave.
I will stay out on the ocean shore.
Seagulls fly overhead,
they land down on the beach.
Their far-off cries bid the day good-night.
Out in the sunset I see dolphins
leaping through the waves.
Their turning, jumping transforms
the setting sun into the start of a new day.
They call out to me and I long to join them
in the freedom that is the sea.
Sunset is a dark, purple haze,
recalling everything that is beautiful.
I grab a boogie-board
and float along with the water.
A giant wave comes over me
and I tumble head over heels underwater.
In the sea I am a new creature.
When I return to the surface
I laugh out loud.
I look up and see the first stars.
The sky is becoming black.
It is time for me to be going.
Tomorrow I’ll come back
and watch from the ocean shore.

[Rancher]

'Listening for a Cinchbell' by Jessica Hedges.

I have heard her in person recite it a few times and I absolutely love the words of the poem. If I can find the words somewhere I will post them on here.

[battery4laptop]

Well...I've been fond of this poem for quite awhile, but it's a short one and I'm not sure who the original author is. I originally found it on some obscure site online.

WHAT I NEED

What I need
is a small plot of land
that expands and contracts
to my desires
like an elastic band
with the sun, sea, and flowers
birds, mountains, and sands.

Yes, what I need
is a small plot of land.
There'd be folk that I liked,
who liked me too.
Yes, this magic plot of land
would very nicely do.

It's very great, I like it.