I'm writing in this heartfelt holy week to spread my passion for poetry. To begin, I think that sharing poetry or words from the heart are the most lovely, personal gifts you could ever give. If you are unable to express yourself, or are simply unsatisfied with your own sentiment, it can be just as meaningful (if not more so) to write out a favorite poem or haiku.

A number of recent personal and professional projects have revived my love for Rabindranath Tagore. My dear friend Andy from ages past gave me a book called Fireflies. it is chock full of beautiful little poem meditations and floral illustrations. At the beginning of January, I revisited the text and selected this to share with friends and family:

"The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough."-Rabindranath Tagore

I discovered today (after re-reading the dedication from Andy), that this was also his favorite poem at the time. In addition to Tagore, I'm quite fond of emily dickinson and e.e. cummings. In fact, I'm still in love with this one {for you JS} :

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

... (e.e. cummings)

I have always been inspired by e.e. cummings use of text, lowercase letters, and page structure. Finally, I must give a shout out to Marge Piercy, My Mother's Body, as i love to read her work. What inspires you?