For the last few years bloggers out there have been doing the Silent Poetry Reading in honour of St. Brigid, patron saint of poetry, on February 2nd, and every year I forget about it until it is too late. I am all too distracted by the Groundhog Day association (apparently 3 of the key North American groundhogs all predict a longer winter, so I guess that settles that). But this year, I have remembered, ta da!
The first poetry I was ever exposed to came from children’s books, of the Dr. Seuss and A.A. Milne variety, but there was also Shel Silverstein. I still have several of his humorous ones memorized, and still think they’re brilliant. I’ve been having trouble choosing one, but in the end – short and sweet is always good on a Monday, yes?
Early Bird
Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate
If you’re a bird, be an early early bird -
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.
(From ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’, 1974)
Get out there and catch the worm, my friends. (Or sleep late).
