In this quarantining time, we have a celebration that can be observed from a safe distance! Poem in Your Pocket Day falls yearly on a selected day during Poetry Month. Begun locally in New York in 2002, the celebration went national in 2008, perhaps because it’s so much fun. Poems can rhyme or not, be serious or silly, rouse you to action or lull you to sleep. There are no limits! This year’s celebration is Thursday, April 29th.
I’ve chosen one for myself and a couple for the grandsons next door to slip into our messaging place though they may choose to add their own. I printed them on cards that slip easily into pockets. Even active boys need a poem here and there.
For the seven-year-old, I chose “The Little Turtle” by Vachel Lindsay, a favorite from the many years ago when I was his age. It’s image still makes me smile.
There was a little turtle.
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle.
He climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow.
And he snapped at me.
He caught the mosquito.
He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow.
But he didn't catch me.
For the eight-year-old whose sense of humor develops day by day, Shel Silverstein’s “Skinny” seems perfect.
Skinny McGuinn
was so terribly thin
that while taking his bath
Sunday night,
out popped the plug
and slosh-swoosh
and glug-glug
it washed Skinny
right down the drain
out of sight.
And where is our dear Skinny
bathing tonight?
In some underground pool
down below?
Or up there so high
in that tub in the sky
where all of
the clean people go?
For myself, adult and then some, I think of the world we inhabit today and choose “Abou Ben Adhem” by James Henry Leigh Hunt that spoke to me when I read it first in high school or college and continues to seem pertinent for our time.
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said
"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
I’ve always thought but have never had it confirmed that the idea for this day may have come from a poem by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers that was a favorite with my second graders and me.
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head
and you’ll never feel lonely at night when you’re in bed.
The little poem will sing to you
the little picture bring to you
a dozen dreams to dance to you
at night when you’re in bed.
So–
Keep a picture in your pocket
and a poem in your head
and you’ll never be lonely at night when you’re in bed.
I’ll grant you that my favorite way to celebrate this day was with a classful of second graders who had chosen their own poems to share with each other and the teacher, but it can be safely observed with an envelope, phone call, or in person with others in your bubble. Now you have time to be prepared for next Thursday. I’d love to know what you choose to keep you from being lonely at night when you’re in bed.