April abounds with poetry events and it is hard to choose which ones to go to. Yesterday I went to the 12th annual Plunkett Poetry Festival at UMaine-Augusta, always a fun opportunity to hear a lot of Maine poets. Spring has finally come to southern Maine and we are all delirious. Lowe’s opened its garden section and people wearing shorts and Tshirts were madly buying pansies, MiracleGro and all kinds of things they can’t really use or plant until Memorial Day. This is Easter week coming up and here’s a photo of a cat with some chicks. I saw my friend Bruce’s new chicks yesterday, including some bantams – beautiful birds. His yard is full of intensely yellow and purple crocuses. Renewal, rebirth, warmth, blossom. Here is a poem I love about saying YES to the world.
Yes
It’s like a tap-dance
Or a new pink dress,
A shit-naïve feeling
Saying Yes.
Some say Good morning
Some say God bless –
Some say Possibly
Some say Yes.
Some say Never
Some say Unless
It’s stupid and lovely
To rush into Yes.
What can it mean ?
It’s just like life,
One thing to you
One to your wife.
Some go local
Some go express
Some can’t wait
To answer Yes.
Some complain
Of strain and stress
The answer may be
No for Yes.
Some like failure
Some like success
Some like Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes.
Open your eyes,
Dream but don’t guess.
Your biggest surprise
Comes after Yes.
Muriel Rukeyser
freshmoonpie 