The poetry box lately has been filled with the ancient – 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi’s “The Guest House” closed out the summer—and the silly—a neighbor snuck “Eletophony” into the box, complete with color images of dancing Disney elephants. I thought perhaps a neighborhood kid had decided to co-opt the box with their favorite poem and I was charmed. In reality, a fully adult neighbor had slipped this in as a joke, having told me (though I’d forgotten) that he memorized that poem as a kid. I was still charmed.
Last week the Library of Congress announced the new poet laureate, Santa Fe’s Arthur Sze. I am only now getting to know Sze’s work, and chose this poem for the box as a starting place.
“I want a passion that grows and grows.
To feel, think, act, and be defined
by your actions, thoughts, feelings.”
