TODAY by Billy Collins
If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze
that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house
and unlatch the door to the canary’s cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,
a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies
seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking
a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,
releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage
so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting
into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.
For an animated reading of this Billy Collins poem, click here. You won’t be sorry.
All I know is I should be setting in that chair.
I LOVE Billy Collins. He’s one of my favorites. Thanks for posting this!
Ann,
Once again you bring something unusual to the blog. An amazing website with beautiful work. Thank you.
Great poem for a great day.
Wonderful poem, beautiful picture — I can imagine sitting in that chair.
Sure beats the snow coming down out my window this morning!
Mother Nature likes to torture us Albertans with winter weather when you wore sandals to the office yesterday!
Ann, Thank you for the poem—I am holding it in my mind while I await “release from my snow-covered cottage.”
Joletta-Even for us, these winds are crazy, don’t you think?
Ann, thank you for sharing such a beautiful photo and poem today. The serenity of both of them is just what I needed today, which has been a deeply sad day…the 1 yr. anniversary of the death of a dear friend who fought a heroic battle with ALS.
Oh, great poem for a beautiful Spring morning here in Los Angeles. This is my favorite time of year, and the poem and photo are perfect for a day like today!
Louise, I am sorry that you lost a friend a year ago today. I lost my dearest friend a year ago March. I think of her every day.
Lynne and Joletta,
Get outta Cow Town!
Sandra and Louise -
I’m sorry for your losses and understand only too well. I lost my dearest friend 1 year ago this month, and I think about her every day. It makes you realize how precious life is and that every day is a gift.
Linda S.
So perfect for such a beautiful day. A long early morning walk with my dog just made me feel alive and happy. Guess you’re feeling the same!
Lynne: The winds have been wild — I can’t believe how strong they have been …but I was relieved that it wasn’t as bad as they predicted!
Last Thursday was incredible — it was all I could do not to book a holiday to Vegas to see DL!
But if this weather keeps up — might not be a bad idea!
Although — the post today by Ann was perfect …maybe not the way she had planned …goes to show …poetry means something a little different to everybody!! Also, depends on the day!
Linda S. and Sandra, thank you for your kind words. I am sorry that both of you also have experienced the sorrow of losing a friend.
To those suffering losses today, I am so very sorry and send you kind thoughts and wish you peace in your hearts. You are so right; life is short and we should cherish those we love.
Ann–beautiful words on a beautiful day !! And—a poem I get on the first reading !!! Makes it even better.
Great poem for a spring day, and what a lovely photo! Perfect, both.
Love the animated reading of that poem, too — thanks for the link.
Barbara, how beautifully put.
I have memories in my pocket.
They rattle among the change.
My memories of you are treasures I carry wherever I go.
They are stored in bits and pieces, parts of a beautiful whole.
They give me comfort when I think I am alone.
Yes, I have memories in my pocket, like so much other stuff I keep there.
But of all the treasures I have, it’s the memories of you that are the most precious.
Ann
Beautiful pic and perfect poem to go with….They compliment each other!!!!
Joletta (and Lynne) — Hold on to your White Hat!!! Vegas is waiting . . . 90 degrees and no wind today! All the balls have dropped in my Galileo Thermometer, my apartment is officially hot, but still I refuse to turn on the air.
Louise I had the strangest feeling today, that my grandmother (gone many, many moons ago) was speaking right to and through me, and telling me everything was going to be just fine. I not the superstitious type, but it was weird, she could have been right there, the feeling was so strong. I hope the memory or your friend turns from sad, to bittersweet, and finally glad. . . takes time, I suppose.
Also, I heard Kay Starr singing “Wheel of Fortune” this morning on the radio — and she is most wonderful lady. Love, love, love Kay Starr. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Starr
Ann: A beautiful, calming poem, with a charming accompanying action piece. Thank you. Today was a gorgeous day here in Indiana. A perfect spring day.
Louise, Sandra, and Linda S.: My heartfelt sympathies to all of you on this day full of sad and happy memories.
Candy: The poem you posted is absolutely perfect for my ex-husband, whose wife is in her final days of a valiant and strong three-year battle with cancer. My ex-husband and I remain close friends, and I am going to copy this poem so that I may present it to him during these all-too-soon-to-come dark and lonely days. I worry about him and Rae, his wife, almost every minute of every day. Death is difficult to come to grips with, isn’t it?
This blog has meant a lot to me over the past year. Such warm, funny, smart people, starting with wonderful Ann. Thank you all for your kind words today, and Candy, that was a very touching poem.
A lovely poem to match the lovely day. Another lovely day is predicted tomorrow, and lovely Cynthia will be up here at TMF to ride her lovely Siggy.
Too much? Yeah, I thought so too.
However, this lovely day gave me a lovely farmer tan that matches the lovely farmer tan I got on Saturday at Derby Day. Note to self: wear something with sleeves to the Young Writer’s Event. Classy!
By the way, I had no idea that some of Holly’s littermates went to some people I know! Small world yet again. I can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots when I looked at the photo you posted.
Well…
I came back to LA Sunday, go to my beloved Union station, and? no more murals of the good doctors!!!
Somehow I felt as disappointed as Michael Douglas in that movie when he discovered that the Bee Gees had broken up… (illogical and real, both).
And so… this episode is almost over, only four more exams… and I think I found a place for the summer.. and since I have NO imagination, it is going to be? Los Angeles…
Lovely poem, Ann. Now, where is sweet Holly?? I have not ‘seen’ her in so long… nor Daphne, some of Lulu and NO Coco whatsoever. Some Mark.. and his room-mates….
Lovely, Ann! Thank you. xxoos to those feeling sad about missing friends and loved ones.
I keep thinking how my mother would have loved to see this beautiful day.
Gorgeous picture. I love the changing of the seasons. I don’t think I could live in a place that truly didn’t have a winter, spring, summer, and fall. (I have to admit, I do complain a bit about winter.)
What a great poem. (Loved the Billy Collins link too.) That poem is perfect for today. It’s sunny and breezy here on the California coast. I can hear the leaves of the trees rustling outside my window (my favorite sound) and there is a lovely cross breeze blowing through my living room. The cats are curled up and happy and I’m reading My Antonia. (Thanks for extending the deadline. I was just about to give up on getting it read in time.)
For those of you remembering lost loved ones, what a poetic way to remember them, through a sweet poem about a lovely day.
Love this. There is no better blog. How lovely.