A toast!
A toast!
Readers, I nearly had to fall back on that.
Who knew how hard thinking up a toast would be? There are so many occasions on which to toast---birthdays, and anniversaries, and weddings, and graduations---and so many wonderful people deserving of such a tribute, too (including my own mom, who turns 80 this month---Happy Birthday, Mom!)
Maybe that was the trouble...too many good choices. I like it better when a poem forces me into a box and makes me scramble to build a way out. Or, as some of my poetry sisters often say: can't we have more rules?
A Toast to Rules
Rules instruct, they measure, they bind;
Rules tie the past to the future, families define;
Rules say who reigns, who serves, what’s mine.
Rules birth languages, start art schools, procreate paradigms;
Rules preserve form, marry reason to rhyme;
Rules say how to love, where to live, when war is really peacetime.
Rules lay the groundwork, they chalk mark the fence line;
Rules make vowels speak, name numbers as prime;
Rules say be this, not that, if you’ll be so kind.
Rules make straight the path, stamp out the serpentine;
Rules ink how long to care, how high to climb;
Rules say you’re out, you’re foul, you’re safe—this time.
Which is why poetry rudely rejects such designs;
It cavorts; it break dances; it steps light-years out of line;
For who says we must only be who the fine
rules instruct?
---Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)
Find my Poetry Sisters' toasts here:
Liz
Tricia
Tanita
Laura
Andi
Kelly
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Friendly Fairy Tales.
