The Duty of a Poet
by Angela Lansbury
The duty of a poet
Is to spread a little light
To teach the eager children
Night follows day, day wipes night
I’m sorry I’ve often heard
People died reading bad words
Bad news, debts, prompt suicide
Farmers, even doctors died
And yet, my dear, don’t forget
Souls who claim great escape
Air crash, prison, kidnap, rape
Saying poems, chanting rhymes
Held visions of better times
They told themselves - and captors
Life’s filled with joys and raptures
Out and about or at home
In company or alone
Move to soothe, let your hands write
Create sweet words, spread the light
A simple poem lights the dark
Like spotlit paths lead through the park
A promise that though one soul dies
A million stars shine, light wide skies.
The duty of a poet
Is to shed a little light
To teach the eager children
Night follows day, day wipes night,
Like your mother or father,
Your teacher or your preacher
Show what is wrong and what is right,
The duty of the poet
Is to spread a loving light.
-ends-
copyright Angela Lansbury April 29 2015
For the opening of a course, school term, conference, festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment