You Reading This, Be Ready

In highschool I took a lit course called "Innocence and Evil". I just found the poem packets from that class. The last poem we read, which I just reread, is amazing.

"You Reading This, Be Ready"
-William Stafford

Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life -

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting now, right in this room, when you turn around?


Another poem I love -

The First Lesson
-Philip Booth

Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to you island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently back and wide to the light year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.