poems as sustenance

I have benefitted from the labours of poets and poetesses from decades past – and centuries past – and I have no way of expressing my gratitude except to “pay it forward” (as the younger set says) – I have received freely and now I give freely.

In no particular order, I list poems that have helped me at pivotal moments in my life.

  1. The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost.
  2. Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou.
  3. “Hope” is the thing with feathers, by Emily Dickinson
  4. Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous / to be understood., by Mary Oliver.
  5. Leisure, by W.H. Davies.
  6. Sonnet 129: Th'expense of spirit in a waste of shame, by Shakespeare.
  7. These are certain signs to know / Faithful friend from flattering foe., by Shakespeare.
  8. What Survives, by Rilke.

local poems

For some local flavour, lest I be accused of Euro-centric tendencies.

  1. there is no future in nostalgia, by Arthur Yap.
  2. Void Deck, by Alfian Bin Sa'at.

#lists #poems