"PoemArt"

A dear man turned seventy one yesterday; he's the husband of a close friend of mine.  They requested that we each bring a poem to the birthday gathering last night.  It was quite the poetry slam!  Many people read their poems aloud (and a few even composed their own poetry especially for the occasion).  Every poem offered will be compiled into a small book.  I couldn't help myself:  I wanted the poems I offered to be visually "beautiful".  I have many favorite poems, so it was very difficult to choose.  Here are just three that I think speak well to the values I share with these wonderful friends.

(For easier readability, here is the Mary Oliver poem in plain text:
Do you think of them as decoration? Think again. Here are maples, flashing.  And here are the oaks, holding on all winter to their dry leaves.  And here are the pines, that will never fail, until death, the instruction to be green.  And here are the willows, the first to pronounce a new year. May I invite you to revise your thoughts about them?  Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and advancement!  But I think it would do us good if we would think about these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply. The trees, the trees, just holding on to the old, holy ways.)

All blog photographs taken by Jennifer J. Wilhoit unless otherwise noted.