2024's Edition of Poem in Your Pocket!

 Yes, I know it's been an entire year since I've published on this blog. Thanks for reminding me. To quote my friend Forrest, "That's all I got to say about that."

Now for the poem:

This year I decided to go with U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon's poem "The Quiet Machine." 

“The Quiet Machine”

I’m learning so many different ways to be quiet. There’s how I stand

in the lawn, that’s one way. There’s also how I stand in the field

across from the street, that’s another way because I’m farther from

people and therefore more likely to be alone. There’s how I don’t

answer the phone, and how I sometimes like to lie down on the

floor in the kitchen and pretend I’m not home when people knock.

There’s daytime silent when I stare, and a nighttime silent when I

do things. There’s shower silent and bath silent and California silent

and Kentucky silent and car silent and then there’s the silence that

comes back, a million times bigger than me, sneaks into my bones

and wails and wails and wails until I can’t be quiet anymore. That’s

how this machine works.

If you haven't noticed before, I kind of like silence. If you do, too, or are at least curious, check this link to a post from almost a decade ago regarding my thoughts on silence. 

If you want to know more about Poem in Your Pocket Day works, here are the instructions:

1. Find a copy of your favorite poem...or one that tickles you fancy today...or one that actually fits in your pocket. Finding in on your phone is okay, but it's always more human if you have transcribed it yourself and fold it up and put it in your pocket.

2. Carry your chosen poem around all day, and share it with people. Don't forget to share with me!

3. Soak in the awesomeness that is poetry!

4. Check my Instagram (@joeaveragewriter) or Facebook for the video of this year's poem!

If you want even more fun, check out the poem in your pocket label on the right-hand side of this blog. Who knows? You might find something else of worth.