The Peace Of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the  world, and am free. 

From: Song Of The Broad-Axe
by Walt Whitman

What do you think endures ?
Do you think a great city endures?
Or a teeming manufacturing state ? or a prepared constitution? or the best built steamships ?
Or hotels of granite and iron ? or any chef-d’oeuvres of engineering, forts, armaments ?

Away ! these are not to be cherished for themselves,
They fill their hour, the dancers dance, the musicians play for them,
The show passes, all does well enough of course,
All does very well till one flash of defiance.

A great city is that which has the greatest men and women,
If it be a few ragged huts it is still the greatest city in the whole world. 

These poems were taken from this book called This Place I Know, which is a book of selected poems by Georgia Heard. 

Where do we go to seek comfort when we’re sad , or angry, or afraid ? As this very special collection demonstrates, even in our darkest hour, we can find solace-in places or people, and even in pictures and poems.

In memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, eighteen renowned picture book artists have each illustrated a poem by such esteemed poets as Wendell Berry, Gwendolyn Brooks, Emily Dickinson, Lillian Morrison, and Walt Whitman. These words and images of grief, comfort, and hope are for all of us, at any time, as we endeavor to find our way-and our place-in this world.   

Georgia Heard

Georgia Heard is an internationally known writer, keynote speaker and educational consultant. Thousands of educators and writers have listened to Ms. Heard speak of her passion for poetry and writing. She has keynoted hundreds of conferences and given workshops on writing throughout the United States as well as in Sweden, Canada, and Southeast Asia and she has brought her love of writing to classrooms throughout the United States.

Ms Heard is the author of several books on teaching poetry and writing including her most recent title, The Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques That Work (Heinemann, 2002), the popular Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School (Heinemann, 1998), an inspirational and practical book for educators on how to engender a love of poetry among students, Writing Towards Home: Tales and Lessons to Find Your Way (Heinemann, 1995) and For the Good of the Earth and Sun: Teaching Poetry (Heinemann, 1987). She is also the author of three children’s poetry books, Creatures of Earth, Sea, and Sky (Boyds Mill Press, 1995), a collection about animals, Songs of Myself: An Anthology of Poetry and Art (Mondo, 2000), and This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort (Candlewick Press, 2002).

Ms. Heard’s work has appeared in numerous magazines and professional journals and she has been interviewed on National Public Radio’s “Perspectives.” For seven years Ms. Heard worked with New York City Teachers as part of the Teachers College Writing Project. She finished graduate work at Columbia University and while there was honored by the Academy of American Poets.

This Place
by Eloise Greenfield

There is this place I know
where children go to find
their deepest feelings
they look behind the trees
for hiding wants and angers
bashful joys
this place is quiet
no shouts may enter
no rolling laughter
but only silent tears
to carry the feelings
forward in waves
that wash the children
whole

To continue on your poetry journey, click on Sans Souci, our poetess, hostess with the mostess.  

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Feb 26, ’08 This is a lovely collection of poetry. (Great music, so soothing) So true: A great city is that which has the greatest men and women, If it be a few ragged huts it is still the greatest city in the whole world. The Peace of Wild Things is very beautiful, as is the art. Good job, sis!

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Feb 26, ’08 My favorite is the last one. I don’t know why but it offers so much hope for future generations. Just beautiful. All of this is very well put together. Would love to know how long it takes you each week to find all this. It takes me all day to do what I do and it’s not this great LOL. Thanks for putting so much effort into it. Shows just what type of person you are. A GREAT one!

deletereply jayaramanms wrote on Feb 26, ’08 Thank you for presenting an awesome and wonderful poem this week and sharing with us. I like it very much .Please visit my blog on Poetry Wednesday (27th Feby, 2008) at http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/76/POETRY_WEDNESDAY_-_MARRIAGE_OF_TRUE_MINDS…. of Multiply and/or  at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-wHph4Fg7er_0G0bOurZW.KsRJQ–?cq=1 of Yahoo 360 sites and endorse our comments. .

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Feb 27, ’08 And I have found much comfort and tranquilty here with these gorgeous thoughts and lovely muisc that fill my sense with peace. Thank you !

deletereply millimusings wrote on Feb 27, ’08 Beautiful poems and the music sets the scene wonderfully. Thank you. http://millimusings.multiply.com/journal/item/322/Poetry_Wednesday_Destiny_of_the_Troll.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 27, ’08 I think comfort is very important to me in reading poetry.

deletereply kwika wrote on Feb 27, ’08 Beautiful choices thankyou.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 27, ’08 I enjoyed putting this together.

deletereply zafreud wrote on Feb 27, ’08 A really thorough, profound and educational presentation, enhanced by a soothing piece of music!!! Thank you for all, and I also thank you for introducing Georgia Heard to me (I hadn’t heard of her before, nut now, I’ll try to find her books!).

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Feb 27, ’08 A great city is that which has the greatest men and women, If it be a few ragged huts it is still the greatest city in the whole world. AMEN

deletereply vghozlan wrote on Feb 28, ’08 I have always found Whitman, peaceful reading…this brings back elementary schooldays…

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 28, ’08 It’s a shame our that in our childhood, we do not appreciate the beauty of poetry like this. Thank you for your comment.

deletereply rajarishi wrote on Mar 4, ’08 i visited here as i try visiting to the subscribers, to make my maiden attempt too! i learnt a lot of how to go about