Everyday Poetry

One of my favorite pieces of advice came from a wise, homeschooling La Leche League Leader.  She said problems often seem terribly overwhelming and complex.  But sometimes, if we can just change one thing, the scene shifts enough for real progress to be made.

I think of this advice every time we sit down for a Poetry Teatime.  Just a simple shift–adding tea and cinnamon toast to our table time–has made such a difference.  For the most part, we don’t do anything special.  We brew a pot of tea and gather around the table.  I read aloud from Favorite Poems: Old and New edited by Helen Ferris.  We sip our tea and eat our treats.  We might talk about an image or tell about another poem this one reminds us of.  But really that’s all there is to it.

The tea and treats smooth the way and provide a place of genuine welcome.  They elevate our daily dose of poetry from being just one more thing to check off the list.  Now, it’s a ritual that renews all of us.  In advance of Poetry Month, here are some wonderful resources for including poems in your day.

Poetry Every Day on Pinterest

Brave Writer’s brand new Poetry Teatime website

Poetry Every Day–a collection of posts to help you celebrate all month