Poetry Friday #19: I'm Hosting This Week!

I am your host for this week's Poetry Friday. Since I don't have any poetry-related books to review, I've decided to share my five favorite poems about poetry.

In random order, they are:

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Eating Poetry
by Mark Strand

Excerpt: 

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.

There is no happiness like mine.

I have been eating poetry. 

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Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

Excerpt:

I want them to waterski 

across the surface of a poem 

waving at the author's name on the shore. 

But all they want to do 

is tie the poem to a chair with a rope 

and torture a confession out of it. 

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Why I Am Not a Painter by Frank O'Hara

Excerpt: 

I am not a painter, I am a poet. 

Why? I think I would rather be 

a painter, but I am not. Well, 

for instance, Mike Goldberg 

is starting a painting. I drop in. 

"Sit down and have a drink" he 

says. I drink; we drink. I look 

up. "You have SARDINES in it." 

"Yes, it needed something there." 

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Selecting a Reader by Ted Kooser

Excerpt: 

First, I would have her be beautiful, 

and walking carefully up on my poetry 

at the loneliest moment of an afternoon, 

her hair still damp at the neck 

from washing it. 

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How To Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam

Excerpt:

Don't be polite.

Bite in.

Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that

may run down your chin.

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Mr. Linky is collecting your posts below. Happy Friday!