Thursday, June 10, 2021

Poetry Friday - Finding Advice in Poetry

         Thanks to Carol Wilcox who is hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, Carol's Corner.  Carol is introducing us to a new poet! Don't miss the poems! 

              The poem I'm sharing today and came across recently is one I'd saved a while ago. It fits us now, doesn't it? Russell Hoban gives us good advice. I will take it!

My puzzle from long ago!



Jigsaw Puzzle

by Russell Hoban

 

My beautiful picture of pirates and treasure

is spoiled, and almost I don't want to start

to put it together; I've lost all the pleasure

I used to find in it: there's one missing part. 

I know there's one missing -- they lost it, the others,

the last time they played with my puzzle -- and maybe

there's more than one missing: along with the brothers

and sisters who borrow my toys there's the baby. 

There's a hole in the ship or the sea that it sails on,

and I said to my father, "Well, what shall I do?

It isn't the same now that some of it's gone."

He said, "Put it together; the world's like that too."



19 comments:

  1. Love the ending of Hoban's poem,
    "Put it together; the world's like that too." How true, we just have to keep on patching pieces together, and hopefully make it a little better. puzzle pic is wonderful, thanks Linda!

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  2. Great advice here! The world really is like that! Even if it is a little disconcerting! I love this!

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  3. What a great poem! I need to share this one with my students. Thank you.

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  4. That does have a powerful message, Linda. I'm going to have to remember this poem. It is a good attitude about puzzles and the world. What would we be if we all stopped putting together our corners because there are holes?

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  5. Wonderful poem!! And yes, so true. That last line really says it all.

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  6. OH, I love the ending. The world IS like that!

    I wasn't expecting this to be profound, just enjoying the way it rollicks along like he does in the Frances books, and then suddenly, BOOM!

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  7. I love how the ending is such a surprise as we follow this story along. Yep, the world is like that and we keep putting it back together anyway. Love it!

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  8. I was not ready for that ending! I felt the author's disappointment in the missing piece and how easy it is to blame others for it (as well as short-comings and problems) as we often do. Love the father's advice. Thanks for sharing - and I love the ferris wheel puzzle! Carol at The Apples in My Orchard.

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  9. Thanks very much for coming by, everyone. I'm so glad you liked the poem and that surprise at the end!

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  10. Oh what an ending! And so very wise. The world is indeed like that.

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  11. There is so much truth in that last line! Thank you for sharing it with us, Linda.

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  12. Thanks, Sally & Catherine. It is a truth there at the end!

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  13. Oof! I was admiring his enjambment and rhyme, and that ending took me totally by surprise!

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    1. Yes, a surprise when I first read it, too! Thanks, Mary Lee

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  14. Linda, the poem you chose for us to read ends with a bit of wisdom. Thanks for sharing this one. It reminds me of the simple puzzle I bought for my little Sierra. I have been very careful putting back her pieces but a couple have fallen and landed so I am not sure all are back in the box. I know what I can tell her if her puzzle is missing some pieces.

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    1. Thanks, Carol, how fun to think of using this 'lesson' with your granddaughter!

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  15. Russell Hoban is a favorite of my and I know just how he feels in this poem. I feel the same way when I discover a missing puzzle piece, but do it anyway. And I love your picture of the Wonder Wheel, a ride I haven't been on since I was a teenage. The swinging cars were the best, and the view of NYC at the top was breathtaking. Thanks for sharing both of these.

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    1. I'm happy you recognize the puzzle, one we did a long time ago. I've never been there and love that you have, Alex. I agree, Hoban gets it exactly right! Thanks!

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  16. I'm linking to this in my NPM post today! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

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