Poetries Perspective

Famous 

The river is famous to the fish.

The Poet: Naomi Shihab Nye

The loud voice is famous to silence,
which  knew it would inherit the earth
 before anybody said so.

The cat sleeping on the fence is famous to the birds
 watching him from the birdhouse.

The tear is famous, briefly, to the cheek.

The idea you carry close to your bosom
is famous to your bosom.

The boot is famous to the earth
 more famous than the dress shoe,
 which is famous only to floors.

The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it
 and not at all famous to the  one who is pictured.  

I want to be famous to shuffling men
who smile while crossing streets,
sticky children in grocery lines,
famous as the one who smiled back.

I want to be famous in the way a pulley is famous,
or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular,
but because it never forgot what it could do. 

Naomi Shihab Nye

                -From The Language of Life: a Festival of Poets, by Bill Moyers-

I really like this poem because it shows a lot of meaning. To me, it shows that everything has a purpose to it and that we all have a purpose. Also, it is a bit funny in the fact that it makes sense but no sense in parts. I really like her language in this poem and the way she chose to write it. This poem is so obvious but it has mystery. This poem only states the truth to me.


Granny Granny Please Comb My Hair


Granny Granny Please Comb My Hair

you always take your time

The Poet: Grace Nichols

you always take such care

You put me on a cushion between your knees

you rub a little coconut oli

parting gentle as a breeze

Mummy Mummy

she's always in a hurry-hurry

rush

she pulls my hair 

she sometimes tugs

But Granny

you have all the time

in the world

and when you're finished

you always turn your head and say

'Now who's a nice girl?'

Grace  Nichols

I really like this poem because it is really sweet and simple. The author has taken something small, a little girl who wants her granny to comb her hair, and turned it into something sweet. I know I love getting my hair brushed. To me, it shows a sweet love between the girl and her grandma. It brings a smile to my face. I think that this poem has one of those "Awww!" moments to it. I love that about it. But after reading it it makes me think. Has her grandma left? does she miss her? or does she just want her grandma to comb her hair? Comment and tell me what you think about this poem, and if you have an idea on a background story to it.

Sam <3

Image Links:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/naomi-shihab-nye
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/grace-nichols-praise-song-for-my-mother-poem-only/12249.html