Just when you thought National Poetry Month couldn’t get much better, lo and behold, today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. People from all over the United States will be carrying a poem with them today that they share with others. In the case of this blog post, I am carrying the poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (also known as “Daffodils”) by William Wordsworth in my cyber-pocket so I can share it with my readers. You too can join in on Twitter by sharing one of your favorite poems by using the hashtag #pocketpoem.
If you would like to learn more about Poem in Your Pocket Day, please watch the video below. This isn’t just an event for school children. Chances are you might be thinking about how dorky you would feel just randomly sharing a poem with somebody. Believe me, you just might make somebody’s day. As I write this post, I just thought how fun it would be to deliver poems door-to-door. If I was still teaching, that would make a great assignment to send students out into the community.
I’ve chosen to share “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth with you today. His lyric poem fits the season as flowers and blossoms are in bloom across the land. It is also a prime example of English romantic poetry. Wordworth’s famous definition of poetry is as follows:
Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.
Hands down, this poem just hits the spot for putting me in a good mood. Every time I go jogging and spy clumps of daffodils, I end up getting Wordworth’s poem stuck in my mind for the rest of the day.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (aka Daffodils)
I wandered lonely as a Cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and Hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden Daffodils;
Beside the Lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A Poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed–and gazed–but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the Daffodils.
What song or poem can you count on to put you in your happy place?
Can’t get enough poetry? Read my pantoum Grandpa Red over at Misadventures in Strange Places.
The videos used in this post are for promotional purposes only and comply with fair use guidelines.
Article by Jeri Walker-Bickett aka JeriWB.
Jeri, I have a poem I’d like to share with you. It’s one I love, and I think everyone can relate to it on some level.
http://wordingwell.com/in-ones-eyes/
Lorraine, thanks for sharing the link. It’s easy to understand what that is your favorite poem. The writing is beautiful and the emotion so raw.
This made my day Jeri. I needed this kind of a smile…the deep, personal, warm kind 🙂
Jacquie, I hope you danced with the daffodils today my friend 😉
I had forgotten about that Wordsworth poem. It is one I very much enjoy too. Gosh, what poem would I share? I’ll have give that some serious thought … I really don’t know. 🙂
Susan, this one would be a great poem for you to do a podcast on sometime. You could make such pretty iDraw pictures to do with it.
The New York City subway calls its poetry program “Poetry in Motion” and posts the verses in subway cars where ads usually go.
http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/poetry/
Al, thanks so much for the link. I’m always interested in the ways poetry makes it into communities. I see that the program took a four-year hiatus, but that it’s back now.
One of my favorite poems is The Journey, by Mary Oliver. One of my poems was recently installed as an art in public places exhibit in a train station. I think Poem in Your Pocket Day is a fabulous way to encourage the appreciation, reading and writing of poems. I enjoy the Wordsworth poem you shared and agree with his definition of poetry. Thank you.
Michele, congrats on getting one of your poems before the public 🙂
What a great idea! I’m going to see if our local library has such a program. I have many favorites but The Road not Taken by Frost was one of the first I memorized and so it’s stuck with me the longest.
Jan, oh yes I love “The Road no Taken” as well. I’ll need to incorporate that one into next year’s post for National Poetry Month somehow.
I am actually surprised I can fit this in my pocket
http://youtu.be/vIau2IjTv_Y
Jon, you would be 😉
Hello Jeri,
A Wonderful post… What a great reading by Jeremy Irons by the way…
When I think of him I can’ t avoid tiding him to his main role performance in the film based on Nabokov’s “Lolita”, though…
Anyway, tossing aside this “leading” circumstance, he is a Great actor, versatile in so many diferent ways.
Worth listening to him here with regard to Wordworth’ s poem. Brilliant!.
Aquileana, I think I’ll forever associate Irons with playing Humbert Humbert as well, but like you I too am willing to cast that aside to appreciate his many other fine points as an actor and reader. I could listen to his voice over and over.
Oh what a sweet poem. I’ve seen seas of daffodils and it is mesmerizing.
I think Jeremy Irons should recite all poems from here on out. 🙂
Beth, Jeremy Irons has henceforth been deemed King of Poetry Reading.
Gorgeous reading by gorgeous Irons! LOVE! Thank you.
I pass on one of my FAVES to you: Neruda …! xx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swXlvCwXCYw
Kim, thanks for passing on Neruda’s name. I really like “Absence.”
Hi Jeri,
I have immense love for the poem you have chosen, most of it I can recite from memory and the last stanza is my ultimate favorite!! I have actually experienced that kind of bliss!
Another one, which moves my heart is: Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.
And IF by Rudyard Kipling just bewilders me each time I read it, I had kept it at my desk for along time, when I had one…reminding myself of all the lessons it propounds, so naturally.
Thanks for sharing a lovely post.
Balroop, I agree that last stanza is the epitome of bliss 🙂
I love this idea. I can’t recall hearing about Poem in Your Pocket Day. Maybe next year, I can remember it and mail cards out with poems on them. I’m sure most people I know would throw them away, but it would put a smile on my face. Like your chosen poem. I love it. I was about to start revising, and this poem is setting the stage for my revisions. All smiles.
Denise, I like the idea of mailing cards with poems on them. Even though many might end up just throwing them away, the act would still be unexpected and a definite bright and unexpected point in that person’s day.
The only ‘poems’ I have in my head are songs. LOL But I love reading what you post!
Cheryl, songs are the new poetry 🙂
I’d never heard of this day, but I certainly know this poem. School outings to Wordsworth country were a big thing growing up in England as you can imagine. Actually it’s a beautiful region and I used to go there a lot in my late teens.
A.K., since my hubby wants to go fly fishing in England someday, I know I’ll make it to the Lake District eventually.
That is a wonderful poem, I can see why it brings a smile to your face, it did to mine too 🙂
Sandy, that final stanza never gets old no matter how many times I hear it or think about it.
Thanks for this wonderful post. Both the poem and Jeremy Irons’ voice make my heart dance with the Daffodils.
Irina, I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and Irons’ reading of it 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
There are daffodils planted beside the canal here in Ottawa and they always make me smile when they are in bloom, they mean spring is here. 🙂 My favorite poem is from Jeanette Layne-Clarke in which she discusses “Bajan Time”. If I had to carry a poem around in my pocket, it would be that one because it never fails to make me smile.
Debra, it’s now time for bearded irises. I think they’re my second favorite after daffodils.