Friday, November 11, 2016

Poetry Friday: Peace

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

--Wendell Berry

On Wednesday, our eighth grade English teacher shared and discusses this poem with her students. As she put it, "We talked about the importance of finding concrete ways to combat the ideas and behaviors that do not reflect what is good and true and decent."


With my seventh graders, we read Nicola Davies's The Promise with a focus on how small actions of good can have a broad impact on others and the world around us.


Looking for a small way to make a difference? Consider joining the Diverse Children's Book community to share and celebrate diverse books in all forms. Click here for our current linkup. Spread the message of the important power of books and stories and poetry.

Visit Jama's Alphabet Soup for more Poetry Friday posts.

12 comments:

  1. Books, poetry, and beautiful words spread the power of positivity as we move forward.

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  2. So true: small actions of good can have a broad impact on others and the world around us. Thanks for sharing Berry's poem -- so calming.

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    1. Agreed. It's amazing the power of just one poem.

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  3. Yes - it's so important to channel our frustrations and emotions into concrete actions, however small. Talk is cheap - it's through our actions that we can change the world together.

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  4. Every "promise" can help, and I hope people continue to be inspired to do good things in these next years. Thanks, Katie.

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  5. Peace is the perfect focus today!

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  6. We're on the same wavelength, turning to Wendell Berry for comfort and inspiration...

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    Replies
    1. And I hope we've passed comfort and inspiration along as well.

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