Tis Not Too Late to Seek a Newer World: National Poetry Month

AND GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED! (see below)

Odysseus and the Sirens, Ulixes mosaic at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia, 2nd century AD

(By Giorcesderivative work: Habib M'henni - File:GiorcesBardo54.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10353941)

I was pleased to speak with several classes of 8th graders at Cheyenne Eagle Butte Junior  High School last week. They are beginning to interact with poetry, and I look forward to reading their original efforts. 

They asked good questions. One was "What is your favorite poem?" If you love poetry, the answer to this question depends on the moment! At any given time, my answer might have been different, but one of my enduring favorites is the classic by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ulysses." Based on Homer's The Odyssey, the aged ruler, Ulysses, also known as Odysseus, looks back--and forward--on his life and reign, and decides he wants to continue to contribute, to experience life, to keep moving, and to do what he can. 

I like the poetry itself, and the themes of optimism, strength, and persistence. It has so many quotable lines! Here are the last: 

'T is not too late to seek a newer world. 

Push off, and sitting well in order smite 

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds 

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths 

Of all the western stars, until I die. 

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: 

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, 

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. 

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' 

We are not now that strength which in old days 

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; 

One equal temper of heroic hearts, 

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will 

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

For full effect read the complete poem or hear it read here

GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Winners of the Poetry Friday Power Books are Mr. Nickerson and Chel, who did not leave contact info. If I don't hear from them within a week, I will re-draw. 

What's Your Favorite Poem?

("Ulysses' Dream", 1893, Nicolae_Vermont_-_Visul_lui_Ulise.jpg‎ (382 × 275 pixels, file size: 24 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Though National Poetry Month is nearly over for 2011, I hope you continue to appreciate poetry year 'round.

I like many different kinds of poetry from many different poets, old and new. When I consider what I would call my favorite poem, though, "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is still the one I choose. I'd like to think we all have a heroic heart within us that keeps us seeking, striving, and finding at any age. Here's the last part:

...Come, my friends.
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
the sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are---
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Read the whole poem here

or listen to Sir Lewis Casson recite it:

Alfred Lord Tennyson - Ulysses - Lewis Casson by poetictouch

What's one of your favorite poems?