Pausing for Poetry

Thanks to the April 2011 edition of the magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, I am launching another regular segment to my blog. After reading several articles in this month's edition that were devoted to the art of poetry, I have a renewed love of poetry that I want to share with my dear readers. Poetry goes to the depths with so few words. I admire that. The best poems are the ones that open my eyes to a new understanding of the world as a poet experiences it, and thus helps me make sense of my own experience. The right poem can move me to a place where soul and mystery and eternity reside. With that said, the first poem I'll share is one of my sister LuAnn's favorites. In 1973 when she'd gone away to college and I was in my junior year of high school she sent me a small book with this poem by Sara Teasdale titled, "Loveliness".

Life has loveliness to sell...
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff...
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.
Life has loveliness to sell
Music like a curve of gold...
Scent of pine trees in the rain
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.
Spend all you have for loveliness
Buy it and never count the cost...
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.