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from the issue of November 1, 2007
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American Life in Poetry
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
What motivates us to keep moving forward through our lives, despite all the effort required to do so? Here, North Carolina poet Ruth Moose attributes human characteristics to an animal to speculate upon what that force might be.
The Crossing
The snail at the edge of the road
inches forward, a trim gray finger
of a fellow in pinstripe suit.
He's burdened by his house
that has to follow
where he goes. Every inch,
he pulls together
all he is,
all he owns,
all he was given.
The road is wide
but he is called
by something
that knows him
on the other side.
Poem copyright (c) 2004 by Ruth Moose. Reprinted from "75 Poems on Retirement," edited by Robin Chapman and Judith Strasser, published by University of Iowa Press, 2007, by permission of the author and publisher. Introduction copyright (c) 2007 by The Poetry Foundation. This column is made possible by the Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org) and supported by the UNL Department of English. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.
GO TO: ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 1
ARTS HEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 1
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
American Life in Poetry
'Annie' to play Lied Nov. 6-7
Confucius Institute Dedication
Day of the Dead celebration is Nov. 1
Monks to begin sand painting Nov. 2 at the Lentz Center
Music historian, fortepianist to deliver Nov. 5 Geske Lecture
QUILT DONATION
Second annual staff art exhibition opens Nov. 5
'Sheldon Survey: An Invitational' to offer work by 20 contemporary artists
University Theatre opens new season with 'Self Defense, or death of some salesman'
UNL artists featured in online video project
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