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Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Searching... Author: NYE, NAOMI SHIHAB Matches Found: 297 Nye, Naomi Shihab Poet's Biography 297 poems available by this author A VALENTINE FOR ERNEST MANN Poem Text First Line: You can't order a poem like you order a taco Subject(s): Valentine's Day; Gifts & Giving; Poetry & Poets A WAY AROUND Poem Text First Line: Argument / is a room I won't enter ACROSS THE BAY Poem Text First Line: If we throw our eyes way out to sea Last Line: That boat. Subject(s): Absence; Boats; Mothers; Sea; Water; Separation; Isolation; Ocean ALASKA Poem Text First Line: The phone rang in the middle of the fairbanks night and was always a Last Line: The beer is on us. Subject(s): Alaska; Dreams; Quilts; Sleep; Telephones; Nightmares ALIVE Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: Dear abby, said someone from oregon Subject(s): Advice ALL THINGS NOT CONSIDERED Poem Text First Line: You cannot stitch the breath Subject(s): Middle East - Conflicts; Death; Arab-israeli Conflict; Dead, The ALMOST, NEVER Poem Text First Line: He says one thing -- she says everything else Last Line: Knotted with cries Subject(s): Birds; Change; Discontent; Life; Dissatisfaction ALONE Poem Text First Line: He grows used to the sound of the floor Last Line: That he didn't do. He would like to meet them. Subject(s): Death; Marriage; Solitude; Dead, The; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; Loneliness ALPHABET Poem Text First Line: One by one / the old people Last Line: "I" Subject(s): Past ALWAYS BRING A PENCIL Poem Text First Line: There will not be a test Last Line: To move around. Subject(s): Pens & Pencils; Writing & Writers ANY NUMBER Poem Text First Line: Hole in a sock Last Line: How many years it takes to make a stone. Subject(s): Stones; Granite; Rocks ARABIC (JORDAN, 1992) Poem Text First Line: The man with laughing eyes stopped smiling Last Line: In every language and opened its doors. Subject(s): Arabic Language; Arabs - Women; Grief; Jordan; Pain; Sorrow; Sadness; Suffering; Misery ARABIC COFFEE First Line: It was never too strong for us AT MOTHER TERESA'S First Line: Finally there are enough people to hug! Last Line: Her face closes. I will never guess Subject(s): Alienation (social Psychology); Dissenters; Exiles; Marginality, Social AUDIENCE First Line: Always one man reeking of salt Last Line: Hands, dangling %these three small stones BECAUSE OF LIBRARIES WE CAN SAY THESE THINGS Poem Text First Line: She is holding the book close to her body Last Line: Her life starts here. Subject(s): Books; Librarians & Libraries; Reading; Library; Librarians BEING FROM ST. LOUIS Poem Text First Line: Under the nickel-gray bridges Last Line: Its name on our knees. Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; Cities; Railroads; Travel; Airplanes; Air Pilots; Urban Life; Railways; Trains; Journeys; Trips BEYOND THIS WORLD THERE ARE TWENTY OTHER WORLDS First Line: My friend spreads deer corn Last Line: Between rings because no one could reach BILL'S BEANS; FOR WILLIAM STAFFORD Poem Text First Line: Under the leaves, they're long and curling Last Line: And the brevity of bean. Subject(s): Beans; Food & Eating; Oregon; Plantation Life; Trees BLOOD Poem Text First Line: A true arab knows how to catch a fly in his hands' Subject(s): Ethnic Groups - United States; Minorities - United States; United States - Race Relations BLOOD First Line: A true arab knows how to catch a fly in his hands' Last Line: Where can the crying heart graze? %what does a true arab do now? Subject(s): Ethnic Groups - United States; Minorities - United States; U.s. - Race Relations BOOKS WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED IN YEARS Poem Text First Line: The person who wrote yes! Last Line: Beside the road. Subject(s): Books; Writing & Writers; Reading BOY AND EGG Poem Text First Line: Every few minutes, he wants Last Line: Or the rest of the day. Subject(s): Birds; Chickens; Eggs; Hens BOY AND MOM AT THE NUTCRACKER BALLET Poem Text First Line: There's no talking in this movie Last Line: Do you have any more pistachios in your purse? Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers; Play; Theater & Theaters; Stage Life BOY'S SLEEP Poem Text First Line: All day a boy plunges his hands into his pockets Last Line: While I'm not paying attention. Subject(s): Boys; Rest; Sleep BREAKING MY FAVORITE BOWL Poem Text First Line: Some afternoons / thud unexpectedly Subject(s): Accidents BREAKING MY FAVORITE BOWL First Line: Some afternoons BREAKING THE FAST Poem Text First Line: Japanese teacher says Last Line: No fish blocks my view. Subject(s): Morning BRICK First Line: Each morning in the gray margin BROKEN CLOCK First Line: What does time look like from your chair? Once you cowered in a Last Line: When you leave here? Does this place really let you leave? BRUSHING LIVES Poem Text First Line: In alexandria a waitress skimmed between tables Last Line: We feel full already, we have enough friends. Subject(s): Palestine BURNING First Line: My friend from bethlehem shops at a jewish deli in jerusalem Last Line: She will not be able to eat it Subject(s): Peace BURNING THE OLD YEAR Poem Text First Line: Letters swallow themselves in second Subject(s): Loss BUTTER BOX Poem Text First Line: There is a picture to help us Last Line: See how much help we didn't need? Subject(s): Butter CALIFORNIA TIME, TEXAS TIME First Line: Knowing you are always two hours ahead of me Last Line: The hour wraps around him and he shines %not even knowing it and dives deep CAPE COD Poem Text First Line: The graves of desire nye and patty nye (1794) Last Line: In her hem? Subject(s): Cape Cod; Disasters; Shipwrecks; Travel; Journeys; Trips CATALOGUE ARMY Poem Text First Line: Something has happened to my name Subject(s): Popular Culture - United States CATALOGUE ARMY First Line: Something has happened to my name Subject(s): Popular Culture - United States CHANGED Poem Text First Line: They said something mean about me Subject(s): Change COMING SOON Poem Text First Line: I placed one toe Last Line: It said it did not need me. Subject(s): Cold; December; Restaurants; Time; Waiters & Waitresses; Cafes; Diners CONTINUAL USAGE Poem Text First Line: No wonder we felt weighted walking in those halls. The blackboards Last Line: Returned to her classroom to pay a different kind of attention, this time. Subject(s): Children; Memory; Past; Schools; Childhood; Students CROSS THAT LINE Poem Text First Line: Paul robseon stood Subject(s): Freedom; Liberty DAILY Poem Text First Line: These shriveled seeds we plan Subject(s): Family Life; Relatives DARLING Poem Text First Line: I break this toast for the ghost of bread in lebanon Last Line: "the word ""together"" wants to live in every house." Subject(s): Language; Lebanon; Mothers; Words; Vocabulary DEBRIS First Line: A woman phones to say she found two of my poems Last Line: The men and women who walk through them, sometimes step gently and sometimes pause DEFINING WHITE First Line: On the telephone no one knows what white is DEFINITE SHORE First Line: The boy who ate poisoned fish in sri lanka covers his eyes DEW First Line: A kickapoo grandmother pulled DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY Poem Text First Line: There was the method of kneeling Subject(s): Prayer DUCKS Poem Text First Line: In her first home each book had a light around it Last Line: The ducks were building a nest. Subject(s): Culture Conflict; Ducks; Family Life; Iran; War; Mallards; Drakes; Relatives; Persia EARLY RISER Poem Text First Line: The face of the clock at 4 a.M. Last Line: Any mail herself. Subject(s): Clocks; Dawn; Day; Sleep; Time; Sunrise EARTH, SELS First Line: Comes from the bleeding berry, reaching arm of tomato, twisted vine Last Line: Shaping tiny as an echo poured through a pipe-what will you %make make make of your lives? EDGE OF A COUNTRY First Line: At a party, he stooped, spoke his name Last Line: Wore the breath of the whole sea in his wings ELEVATOR Poem Text First Line: We jumped in, trusting Last Line: Sister! He wailed, as I sank deep into the ground. Subject(s): Buildings & Builders; Elevators; New York City; Manhattan; New York, New York; The Big Apple ENDLESS INDIAN NIGHTS First Line: How the same shah who commanded thousands ENTHUSIASM IN TWO PARTS Poem Text First Line: Maybe a wasp will sting my throat again Last Line: We get it back. Subject(s): Happiness; Hope; Joy; Delight; Optimism ESCAPE Poem Text First Line: We raised our hands for the honor of leaving the class -- to carry a Last Line: We had what we wanted Subject(s): School; Locks; Doors; Solitude ESCAPE First Line: That autumn in ramallah Last Line: It was so hard to be there, %age 14, the speechless leaves %unfurling inside my mouth ESTATE SALE: THE SCRABBLE GAME OF A DEAD WOMAN Poem Text First Line: A crowd of strangers flies over your life Last Line: To stand on. Subject(s): Angels; Cemeteries; Coffins; Death; Wings; Graveyards; Dead, The EVEN AT WAR Poem Text First Line: Loose in his lap, the hands Last Line: By tomorrow. Bar the door. Subject(s): War EYE TEST Poem Text First Line: The d is desperate Last Line: We are so tired of meaning nothing. Subject(s): Eyes; Letters; Vision FAMOUS Poem Text First Line: The river is famous to the fish Subject(s): Ambition; Fame; Reputation FAMOUS First Line: The river is famous to the fish Last Line: But because it never forgot what it could do FEATHER Poem Text First Line: She's walking up the street from sanitary tortilla Last Line: Answer softly, here I am. Subject(s): Feathers FIREFLIES Poem Text First Line: Lately I had looked for you everywhere Last Line: To little light. Subject(s): Fireflies; Nature; Night; Glowworms; Bedtime FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK Poem Text First Line: Her hair snipped and tightly curled gives me great comfort Last Line: Unlike mine, you save me. I would grow so tired were it not for you. Subject(s): Banks And Banking; Grandparents; Hawaii; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers FLASHBULB First Line: Now she stands bent over, pressing a cane hard into the floor. She Last Line: But my parent's most famous meal would never be eaten FOLD Poem Text First Line: I am partial to poems about Subject(s): Likes & Dislikes FOR LOST AND FOUND BROTHERS First Line: Where were you in winters of snow FOR LUKE, LEAVING US First Line: I'll remind you how we broke sticks FOR MOHAMMED ON THE MOUNTAIN Poem Text First Line: Uncle mohammed, you mystery, you distant secretive face Subject(s): Uncles; Family Life; Relatives FOR MOHAMMED ZEID OF GAZA, AGE 15 Poem Text First Line: There is no stray bullet, sirs Subject(s): Middle East - Conflicts; Death - Children; Gaza, Palestine; Arab-israeli Conflict; Death - Babies FOR THE 500TH DEAD PALESTINIAN, IBTISAM BOZIEH Poem Text First Line: Little sister ibtisam Last Line: Will not forget your face. Subject(s): Children; Death; Girls; Palestine; Childhood; Dead, The FRANKLY Poem Text First Line: No one has time for the dying Subject(s): Time FRENCH MOVIES First Line: Roasted chicken placed on a linen cloth FROM HERE TO THERE Poem Text First Line: Everything needs readiness Last Line: To shine. Subject(s): Cleanliness; Order FROM THIS DISTANCE Poem Text First Line: He would take a small folded paper from his pocket Last Line: As he stood under the tree looking up. Subject(s): Roads; Paths; Trails FUEL Poem Text First Line: Even at this late date, sometimes I have to look up Last Line: That's where I was going. Subject(s): Story-telling FULL DAY Poem Text First Line: The pilot on the plane says Subject(s): Air Travel; Progress FUNDAMENTALISM Poem Text First Line: Because the eye has a short shadow or Last Line: He would not follow his father into war Subject(s): Fathers & Sons GARDEN OF ABU MAHMOUD First Line: He had lived in spain GARDENER First Line: Everything she planted gave up under the ground GATE A-4 Poem Text First Line: Wandering around the albuquerque airport terminal, after learning Subject(s): Air Travel; Arabic Language; United States; America GENETICS Poem Text First Line: From my father I have inherited the ability Last Line: Ever since. Subject(s): Genetics GLINT Poem Text First Line: My grandmother mentioned only once how the piano teacher she had as Last Line: They're drifting just outside the tune. Subject(s): Grandparents; Kisses; Lips; Music Teachers; Musical Instruments; Pianos; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers GOING FOR PEACHES, FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS First Line: Those with experience look for a special kind GRANDFATHER'S HEAVEN Poem Text First Line: My grandfather told me I had a choice Subject(s): Family Life; Relatives GRANDFATHER'S HEAVEN First Line: My grandfather told me I had a choice Subject(s): Family Life GRATEFUL First Line: From the stick that is my head GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER HAS HIS PICTURE TAKEN First Line: Against the wall he leans, impeccably still Last Line: And the street accepts three more people, %washed with silence, filled with eyes HALF-AND-HALF Poem Text First Line: You can't be, says a palestinian christian Last Line: She is leaving nothing out. Subject(s): Christianity; Churches; Palestine; Prayer; Ramadan; Cathedrals HAMMER AND NAIL First Line: Would you like to see where our little girl is buried' my friend asks as Last Line: Have looked lovely as miniature forests for the first few days HAUNTED Poem Text First Line: We are looking for your laugh Subject(s): Loss HAWAIIAN PUNCH PRAYER, AUGUST First Line: They pound on my door so long HELLO Poem Text First Line: Some nights / the rat with pointed teeth Subject(s): Rats HELLO First Line: Some nights %the rat with pointed teeth Last Line: And all the rats are waving hello Subject(s): Rats HER WAY First Line: What water she poured on the floor HERE First Line: Some days a wisp of light delivers HIDDEN Poem Text First Line: If you place a fern Last Line: The fuel that feeds you. HIGH HOPES Poem Text First Line: It wasn't that they were so Subject(s): Hope; Optimism HIS SECRET Poem Text First Line: The field wraps around him Last Line: Of three days. Subject(s): Secrets; Solitude; Loneliness HOLY LAND Poem Text First Line: Over beds wearing thick homespun cotton Last Line: Of their shoes. Subject(s): Israel; Language; Palestine; Women; Words; Vocabulary HOUSE IN THE HEART First Line: How is it possible to wake this empty HOUSE MADE OF RAIN First Line: Our voices poured out through Last Line: Or that anything could be enough HOUSE WITH NO ONE IN IT First Line: Each time you drive away HOW FAR IS IT TO THE LAND WE LEFT? Poem Text First Line: On the first day of his life Last Line: And he won't even flinch. Subject(s): Babies; Eyes; Rest; Tears; Infants HOW PALESTINIANS KEEP WARM Poem Text First Line: Choose one word and say it over Last Line: And when your shawl is as thin as mine is, you tell stories. Subject(s): Heat; Language; Palestine; Story-telling; Words; Vocabulary HUGGING THE JUKEBOX Poem Text First Line: On an island the soft hue of memory, Subject(s): Singing & Singers; Childen; Grandparents; Jukeboxes; Songs; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers HUGGING THE JUKEBOX First Line: On an island the soft hue of memory Last Line: This is not the end of the island, or the tablets this life has been %scribbled on, or the song I FEEL SORRY FOR JESUS Poem Text First Line: People won't leave him alone Last Line: From the antioch review Subject(s): Jesus Christ I STILL HAVE EVERYTHING YOU GAVE ME Poem Text First Line: It is dusty on the edges Last Line: I would not trade. Subject(s): Memory; Time IF GOD WON'T TAKE ME WHY WON'T THE DEVIL?'; GREAT-GREAT-AUNT LEONORA Poem Text First Line: We stroke your hands to make you smile Last Line: Casting you back. Subject(s): Aging; Aunts; Death; Dead, The IN THAT TIME Poem Text First Line: The day had its own shape Last Line: His red coat and ran away. Subject(s): Children; Memory; Past; Childhood IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Poem Text First Line: Her class invents angels Last Line: They have nothing to do with you. Subject(s): Children; Memory; Schools; Teaching & Teachers; Childhood; Students; Educators; Professors INSIDE THE RIDDLE Poem Text First Line: It's blue in here Last Line: Seems too petty for god. Subject(s): God; Reason; Intellect; Rationalism; Brain; Mind; Intellectuals INTENSIVE CARE First Line: The roads to my father's heart Last Line: The kiss that pulls us up %to many many days ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND Poem Text First Line: Because by now we know everything is no green everywhere Subject(s): Environment; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation JACK KEROUAC'S WILL First Line: Dear jack, shortly after the march 12 birthday party Last Line: You left everything %to me JERUSALEM (1) Poem Text First Line: I'm not interested in / who suffered the most Last Line: It's late but everything comes next. Subject(s): Healing; Israel; Jerusalem; Palestine; Peace; Cures JERUSALEM (2) First Line: Two girls danced, red flames winding KEEP DRIVING Poem Text First Line: Atsuko / steering her smooth burgundy car Last Line: Leave. Subject(s): Cities; Driving & Drivers; Japan; Streets; Urban Life; Japanese; Avenues KINDNESS Poem Text First Line: Before you know what kindness really is Subject(s): Kindness KNITTING, CROCHETING, SEWING Poem Text First Line: Small striped sleeve in her lap, navy and white Subject(s): Women LA FERIA First Line: Here comes the woman who never looks up with one little girl riding Last Line: They are staying in one place LAST AUGUST HOURS BEFORE THE YEAR 2000 Poem Text First Line: Spun silk of mercy, Subject(s): Time LAST SONG FOR THE MEND-IT SHOP Poem Text First Line: Today some buildings were blown up Last Line: It tasted like. Subject(s): Bakeries & Bakers; Buildings & Builders; Landmarks; Retail Trade; Singing & Singers; Stores; Shops; Shopkeepers; Songs LATE Poem Text First Line: Your street was named for berries Last Line: Today I would answer for all those other things. Subject(s): Aunts; Childlessness; Family Life; Houses; Memory; Regret; Relatives LEO First Line: The man can fish. Trout come to him LIGHT WHERE LIVES INTERSECT First Line: Each time a hummingbird discovers Last Line: Lit by its shadow %each time someone dies they will feel surprised LITTLE BLANCO RIVER Poem Text First Line: You're only a foot deep Subject(s): Authors & Authorship; Poetry & Poets LITTLE BLANCO RIVER First Line: You're only a foot deep Last Line: Don't ever get too big Subject(s): Authors And Authorship; Poetry And Poets LITTLE BROTHER POEM First Line: I keep seeing your car in the streets Last Line: When you need it, and you don't have so much time Subject(s): Family Life LIVES OF THE WOMEN POETS First Line: Essentially she is not very well-remembered Last Line: To whom it is addressed LIVING AT THE AIRPORT Poem Text First Line: Because they lived near a major airport Last Line: Wings? Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; Travel; Wheels; Airplanes; Air Pilots; Journeys; Trips LIVING WHERE WE DO Poem Text First Line: I like to think of the man under the house Last Line: Its root lodged deep in the ground. Subject(s): Houses; Moving & Movers; Secrets LIVING WITH MISTAKES Poem Text First Line: They won't wear boots Last Line: In their presence. Subject(s): Errors; Etiquette; Water; Mistakes; Fallacies; Manners; Courtesy LOOKING FOR THE CAT GRAVE First Line: Sunlight stripes a wall LOST Poem Text First Line: Notices - flutter / from - telephone - poles Last Line: Call me call me call me Variant Title(s): So Far Subject(s): Loss LUGGAGE Poem Text First Line: She carries her eyes from country to country Last Line: How it is good we only have two hands Subject(s): Absence; Strangers; Travel; Separation; Isolation; Journeys; Trips LULLABY FOR REGRET Poem Text First Line: I'll tuck you in, thin sliver Last Line: And nothing would go wrong. Subject(s): Love - Complaints; Regret LUNCH IN NABLUS CITY PARK First Line: When you lunch in a town which has recently known war MAD Poem Text First Line: I got mad at my mother Subject(s): Anger; Mothers MAKING A FIST Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: For the first time, on the road north of tampico Subject(s): Childhood Memories; Death; Dead, The MAKING A FIST First Line: For the first time, on the road north of tampico MAN WHO HATED TRESS First Line: When he started blaming robberies MAN WHO MAKES BROOMS First Line: So you come with these maps in your head MESSENGER Poem Text First Line: Someone has been painting Subject(s): Advertising; Graffiti; Letters; Messages & Messengers; Paintings & Painters MINE First Line: It's mine-no, it's mine Last Line: What happens if you kiss, just then? Subject(s): Peace MISSING THE BOAT Poem Text First Line: It is not so much that the boat passed Subject(s): Boats MONA'S TACO Poem Text First Line: Dear mona, do you know Subject(s): Food & Eating; Restaurants; Cafes; Diners MOON TRIO First Line: Moon of silence, unexpected visitor MORNING GLORY Poem Text First Line: The faces of the teachers Last Line: Together, if we hover long enough. Subject(s): Teaching & Teachers; Educators; Professors MORNING PAPER, SOCIETY PAGE Poem Text First Line: I can never see fashion models Last Line: A coming style. Subject(s): Fashion; Models; Skulls MOTHER OF NOTHING First Line: Sister, the stars have no children MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TODO Poem Text First Line: This plane has landed thanks to god and his mercy Last Line: Thanks to the small toad that lives in cool mud at the base of the zinnias. Subject(s): Life; Luck; Mercy; Travel; Journeys; Trips MUSIC Poem Text First Line: When you wanted a piano Subject(s): Family Life; Relatives MUSIC First Line: When you wanted a piano Subject(s): Family Life MY FATHER AND THE FIGTREE Poem Text First Line: For other fruits my father was indifferent Subject(s): Ethnic Groups - United States; Minorities - United States; United States - Race Relations MY FATHER AND THE FIGTREE First Line: For other fruits my father was indifferent Subject(s): Ethnic Groups - United States; Minorities - United States; U.s. - Race Relations MY FRIEND'S DIVORCE Poem Text First Line: I want her / to dig up Last Line: They breathe Subject(s): Friendship MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE STARS Poem Text First Line: It is possible we will not meet again Last Line: And only memory making us rich. Subject(s): Grandparents; Loss; Memory; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers MY UNCLE MOHAMMED AT MECCA, 1981 First Line: This year the wheels of cars MY UNCLE'S FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP Poem Text First Line: Serum of steam rising from the cup Last Line: Nothing will come. Subject(s): Cooking & Cooks; Cookery NEGOTIATIONS WITH A VOLCANO Poem Text First Line: We will call you agua like the rivers and cool jugs Subject(s): Volcanoes NEGOTIATIONS WITH A VOLCANO First Line: We will call lyou 'agua' like the rivers and cool jugs NEW YEAR (1) First Line: Maybe the street is tired of being a street Last Line: To every future which was not hers NEW YEAR (2) Poem Text First Line: Over our heads the words hung down Last Line: Wonderful dies. Subject(s): Calendars; Holidays; New Year; Time NEWS TRAVELLING WELL First Line: In south india NEXT TIME Poem Text First Line: Gingko trees live 1,000 years Last Line: The flesh, the stem, the central vein. Subject(s): Gingko Trees; Mothers NIAGARA Poem Text First Line: Arriving early, before the lovers Last Line: The days that carry us could be these. Subject(s): Niagara Falls; Tourists; Travel; Waterfalls; Journeys; Trips NINE YEARS LATER First Line: Where are the better people we hoped %to be, in his memory? Last Line: A little sheaf %of kleenex NO ONE THINKS OF TEGUCIGALPA NOBODY'S NEWSPAPER First Line: Nobody's newspaper tells what the costa ricans did OBSERVER Poem Text First Line: I watch how other things travel Subject(s): Travel; Journeys; Trips OFFICE 337, WHEELER HALL, BERKELEY First Line: I live in a room of abandoned things OLD IRON First Line: Some days the words pass us OLIVE JAR First Line: In the corner of every arab kitchen, an enormous plastic container Last Line: Or the inedible thesis %statement: it is with great dignity we press you to our lips ONE BOY TOLD ME Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: Music lives inside my legs Last Line: Isn't that happiness? Subject(s): Boys; Mankind; Youth; Human Race ONGOING Poem Text First Line: The shape of talk would sag / but the birds be brighter than ever Last Line: Caught? Subject(s): Arabs - Women OPEN HOUSE Poem Text First Line: I work as hard as I can Last Line: Your move. Subject(s): Peace OUR PRINCIPAL Poem Text First Line: Beat his wife. / we did not know it then Last Line: What he says. Subject(s): Marriage; News; Quarrels; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; Arguments; Disagreements OUR SON SWEARS HE HAS 102 GALLONS OF WATER IN HIS BODY Poem Text First Line: Somewhere a mistaken word distorts the sum Last Line: That nobody could break. Subject(s): Drinks & Drinking; Milk; Parents; Water; Wine; Milkmen; Milkmaids; Parenthood OVER THE FENCE First Line: It is no miracle, she says PABLO AND I HAVE LUNCH First Line: Yesterday I felt comfortable PAKISTAN WITH OPEN ARMS First Line: Tonight in karachi, a man drapes PANCAKES WITH SANTA Poem Text First Line: Santa has a bad memory Last Line: Santa says ain't. Subject(s): Christmas; Memory; Santa Claus; Wishes; Nativity, The; Nicholas, Saint PASSING IT ON Poem Text First Line: Our son's shirts attend kindergarten Last Line: As original skin. Subject(s): Charity; Clothing & Dress; Salvation Army; Philanthropy PASSWORD First Line: I have made so many mistakes Last Line: I have slept so many times %you might think I would really be awake %by now PAUSE Poem Text First Line: The boy needed / to stop by the road Last Line: Across the fields. Subject(s): Drought; Fields; Home; Roads; Travel; Pastures; Meadows; Leas; Paths; Trails; Journeys; Trips PINS First Line: Sitti, sitti, can anyone know how often they are thought of? It might Last Line: Ceiling--they've been gone, you know, a very long time PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU BECAME A WRITER Poem Text First Line: Possibly I began writing as a refuge from our insulting first grade text book. Come, jane, come. Loo Subject(s): Writing & Writers POINT OF ROCKS, TEXAS Poem Text First Line: The stones in my heart Last Line: Looks like a simple stripe. Subject(s): Clouds; Mountains; Prairies; Stones; Texas; Hills; Downs (great Britain); Plains; Granite; Rocks PRAYER IN MY BOOT Poem Text First Line: For the wind no one expected Subject(s): Peace PRAYER IN MY BOOT First Line: For the wind no one expected Last Line: Turning over in its sleep Subject(s): Peace PROBLEMS WITH THE STORY Poem Text First Line: The story was too long Last Line: To find you. Subject(s): Critics & Criticism; Story-telling QUIET OF THE MIND Poem Text First Line: A giant, puffed, and creamy cloud Last Line: People, people, people. Subject(s): Peace; Silence RAIN Poem Text First Line: A teacher asked paul Subject(s): Education; Schools; Students RAIN First Line: A teacher asked paul Last Line: Knew nothing of the coming rain Subject(s): Education; Schools RED BROCADE Poem Text First Line: The arabs used to say Subject(s): Arabs; Hospitality REMEMBERED Poem Text First Line: He wanted to be remembered so he gave people things ROPES First Line: On the beach at karachi, a man tells his monkey SAD MAIL Poem Text First Line: It's strange to think how letters used to be letters, letting you know Last Line: Time. Subject(s): Letters; Postal Service; Writing & Writers; Postmen; Post Office; Mail; Mailmen SAIL MADE OF RAGS First Line: On a river in bangladesh, one of the million currents, a Last Line: I look where you look. The boat is going by SAN ANTONIO Poem Text First Line: Tonight I lingered over your name Subject(s): Love SAN ANTONIO MI SANGRE: FROM THE HARD SEASON Poem Text First Line: The 2 a.M. Whistle of the long train Last Line: In a car streaking the thirsty land. Subject(s): Drought; Thirst SHOULDERS Poem Text First Line: A man crosses the street in rain Last Line: The rain will never stop falling. Subject(s): Antinuclear Movement; Fathers & Sons; Peace; Nuclear Freeze SIFTER Poem Text First Line: When our english teacher gave Subject(s): Teaching & Teachers; Educators; Professors SLEEP'S LITTLE HOUSE First Line: What an open mouth this hour has Last Line: When it has been used by someone %he doesn't know SLEEPING AND WAKING Poem Text First Line: All night someone is trying to tell you something. Subject(s): Night; Bedtime SNOW Poem Text First Line: Once with my scarf knotted over my mouth Last Line: The son! Before the weather changes. Subject(s): Cold; Fathers & Sons; Relationships; Snow; Weather SO MUCH HAPPINESS Poem Text First Line: It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness Subject(s): Happiness; Joy; Delight SO THERE Poem Text First Line: Because I would not let one four-year-old son Last Line: My my we are a stubborn personality Subject(s): Children; Parents; Childhood; Parenthood SOME RELIEF TO THINK OF STARS First Line: The casual inquiry - where is he SPACIOUS AIR First Line: Air gathers words in its wide hands SPARROW BONES Poem Text First Line: He told the secrets of his life Last Line: Before he flew. Subject(s): Insanity; Madness; Mental Illness SPEAKING ARABIC First Line: Why, if I'm part arab, can't I speak arabic?' my son, age five Last Line: The tall american trees were dangling their thick branches right %down over his head SPRUCE STREET, BERKELEY First Line: If a street is named for a tree STAIN Poem Text First Line: She scrubbed as hard as she could with a stone Subject(s): Laundry & Laundering; Women - Old Age STEPS Poem Text First Line: A man letters the sign for his grocery in arabic and english Last Line: Making the shadows that cross each other's smiles. Subject(s): Advertising; Children; Language; Letters; Signs & Signboards; Childhood; Words; Vocabulary STREETS Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: A man leaves the world Subject(s): Death; City & Town Life; Sleep; Streets; Dead, The; Avenues STREETS First Line: A man leaves the world Last Line: Calling out names, and then they answer STRING Poem Text First Line: At certain hours we may rest assured that nearly everyone inside Last Line: Although we did not live in that house Subject(s): Lace; Togetherness SUPPLE CORD Poem Text First Line: My brother, in his small white bed Subject(s): Brothers; Family Life; Half-brothers; Relatives SURE First Line: Today you rain on me from every corner of the sky TELLING LESS: 1 First Line: Otherwise the sun ran dripping across every surface Last Line: A thousand open eyes, smiling TELLING LESS: 2 First Line: The fresh smell of laundry startles us Last Line: Breeze. Inside, a mattress where something else was, %might be TELLING LESS: 3 First Line: That's not the half of it Last Line: And remember how one by one they held us %in their arms TELLING THE STORY First Line: In america, what's real THE ART OF DISAPPEARING Poem Text First Line: When they say don't I know you? Subject(s): Conduct Of Life THE ATTIC AND ITS NAILS Poem Text First Line: It's hard up there. You dig in a box for whatever the moment Last Line: Too occupied to remember what sent you up into the dark. Subject(s): Attics; Change; Memory; Past THE DIFFICULT LIFE OF A YOKOHAMA LEAF Poem Text First Line: Each train that passes Last Line: By the delightful discovery drugstore. Subject(s): Leaves; Mountains; Trees; Wind; Hills; Downs (great Britain) THE GRIEVING RING Poem Text First Line: When word of his death arrived Last Line: For the rest of so many lives Subject(s): Death; Grief; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST Poem Text First Line: A man in a lawn chair Last Line: Growing on the counter next to the knife. Subject(s): August; Fruit; Grass; Pear Trees; Summer; Trees; Pears THE LIST Poem Text First Line: A man told me he had calculated Subject(s): Books; Reading THE LITTLE BROTHER POEM Poem Text First Line: I keep seeing your car in the streets Subject(s): Family Life; Relatives THE MAN WHO HATED TREES Poem Text First Line: When he started blaming robberies Subject(s): Trees THE MAN WHOSE VOICE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM HIS THROAT Poem Text First Line: Remains all supple hands and gesture Last Line: Like an answer Subject(s): Language; Silence; Words; Vocabulary THE MUSIC BOX Poem Text Subject(s): Music Box; Forgetfulness THE PALESTINIANS HAVE GIVEN UP PARTIES Poem Text First Line: Once singing would rise Last Line: Of the velvet in the drawer. Subject(s): Palestine THE RIDER Poem Text First Line: A boy told me / if he roller-skated fast enough Last Line: No matter how slowly they fell. Subject(s): Bicycles; Solitude; Victory; Cycling; Loneliness THE SMALL VASES FROM HEBRON Poem Text First Line: Tip their mouths open to the sky Last Line: And the long sorrow of the color red. Subject(s): Arabs; Arabs - Women; Middle East - Conflicts; Arab-israeli Conflict THE SONG Poem Text First Line: From somewhere / a calm musical note arrives Subject(s): Songs THE STORY AROUND THE CORNER Poem Text First Line: Is not turning the way you thought Subject(s): Story-telling THE TIME Poem Text First Line: Summer is the time to write. I tell myself this Last Line: Maybe it is a title and this life is the poem. Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Summer; Time; Writing & Writers THE TRAVELING ONION Poem Text First Line: When I think how far the onion has traveled Last Line: Disappear. Subject(s): Humanity; Onions THE TRAY Poem Text First Line: Even on a sorrowing day Subject(s): Tea THE TURTLE SHRINE NEAR CHITTAGONG Poem Text First Line: Humps of shell emerge from dark water Last Line: Or say, this is water, that is land. Subject(s): Reptiles; Turtles; Tortoises THE WHOLE SELF Poem Text First Line: When I think of the long history of the self Subject(s): Arabs - Women THE WORDS UNDER THE WORDS Poem Text First Line: My grandmother's hands recognize grapes Subject(s): Grandparents; Grief; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers; Sorrow; Sadness THINLY FLUTED WINGS OF STAMPS First Line: Birds spoke your language by coming to the sill THOSE WHOM WE DO NOT KNOW Poem Text First Line: Because our country has entered Last Line: Think they know us now. Subject(s): Peace; War THREE MULE DEER, DUSK, ORGAN MOUNTAINS First Line: The hermit justiniani walked across europe Last Line: Our whirring engine %on the road back to town THROUGH THE KITCHEN WINDOW, CHIAPAS First Line: Bit by shining bit, the world streams by Last Line: They were planted on the road and %they were all alone TILL NOW First Line: I hid my lies behind the door where no one TONGUE-TIED Poem Text First Line: Someone just told me our tastebuds die Last Line: Between my teeth. Subject(s): Aging; Taste (sense) TRAVEL ALARM Poem Text First Line: Because everything still bears Last Line: Of green. Subject(s): Clocks; Family Life; Time; Travel; Relatives; Journeys; Trips TRUTH SERUM Poem Text First Line: We made it from the ground-up corn in the old back pasture Subject(s): Truth TRYING TO NAME WHAT DOESN'T CHANGE Poem Text First Line: Roselva says the only thing that doesn't change Subject(s): Transience; Impermanence TRYING TO NAME WHAT DOESN'T CHANGE First Line: Roselva says the only thing that doesn't change Subject(s): Transience TUNNEL OF QUESTIONS First Line: What's been going on TWO COUNTRIES Poem Text First Line: Skin remembers how long the years grow Subject(s): Gratitude; Skin TWO COUNTRIES First Line: Skin remembers how long the years grow USE OF FICTION First Line: A boy claims he saw you on a bicycle last week VALENTINE FOR ERNEST MANN Poem Text First Line: You can't order a poem like you order a taco Last Line: And let me know. Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Secrets VISIT Poem Text First Line: Welcome to abu dhabi Last Line: Alright by me. Subject(s): Birds; Falcons; Guests; Rooms; Visiting VOCABULARY OF DEARNESS Poem Text First Line: How a single word Last Line: And where is the rake? Subject(s): Language; Words; Vocabulary VOICES Poem Text First Line: I will never taste cantaloupe Last Line: Ocean shell, chinese button, against the sky. Subject(s): Grandparents; Legacies; Memory; Regret; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers WAIKIKI First Line: On the famous beach in honolulu a small japanese girl cried and cried Last Line: Made and funneled up the billion particles into a mound. Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; Honolulu; Seashore; Travel; Airplanes; Air Pilots; Beach; Coast; Shore; Journeys; Trips WEDDING CAKE Poem Text First Line: Once on a plane Last Line: Was funnier than the whole arm. Subject(s): Babies; Brides; Clothing & Dress; Marriage; White (color); Infants; Weddings; Husbands; Wives WHAT BRINGS US OUT Poem Text First Line: Something about pumpkins caused Last Line: How fast you had to turn to make it move. Subject(s): Fathers & Sons; Fear; Pumpkins WHAT HE SAID TO HIS ENEMIES Poem Text First Line: He could hear them off in the forest Subject(s): Enemies WHAT HE SAID TO HIS ENEMIES First Line: He could hear them off in the forest WHAT IS GIVEN, WHAT IS NOT GIVEN First Line: To market, you hens with stunned faces WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN Poem Text First Line: When you were small Last Line: Ancient eyes. Subject(s): Children; Growth; Parents; Childhood; Parenthood WHAT PEOPLE DP Poem Text First Line: November november november the days crowd together Subject(s): Fathers WHAT SHE WAS DOING AT HOME Poem Text First Line: The baby was there -- unfair Last Line: Wearing a cool rag pressed between her eyes. Subject(s): Children; Home; Mothers; Schools; Childhood; Students WHAT'S HERE Poem Text First Line: Idaho potatoes have made it to honolulu Last Line: I'll go soon. And, don't remember me. Subject(s): Honolulu; Language; Travel; Words; Vocabulary; Journeys; Trips WHEN THE FLAG IS RAISED First Line: Today the vein of sadness pumps WHERE CHILDREN LIVE First Line: Homes where children live exude a pleasant rumpledness WHERE THE SOFT AIR LIVES First Line: She placed her babies in the sink WHITE COALS First Line: Scarcely anything bigger than the questions I didn't ask. What hap Last Line: To your shoulders, pulsing, a bird turned into a flower, folding its %wings WHITE ROAD First Line: I can't even count WHO'S WHO, 1941 First Line: I'm being insulted in a library. The librarian thinks I'm a high WHOLE SELF First Line: When I think of the long history of the self Last Line: And I was there, waving, and I would be there at the other end Subject(s): Arabs - Women WITH THE GREEKS First Line: When you dance greek-style WOOD First Line: The silence of a desk WORDS WHEN WE NEED THEM Poem Text First Line: Before this early moment Last Line: We could still say. Subject(s): Dawn; Language; Morning; Silence; Sunrise; Words; Vocabulary WRITER'S CONFERENCE First Line: No skyline is visible from Subject(s): Authors - Conferences And Workshops; Writer's Conferences And Workshops WRITER'S CONFERENCE First Line: No skyline is visible from Subject(s): Authors - Conferences And Workshops YEAST Poem Text First Line: Each morning from the dim secrecy Last Line: To the oven. Subject(s): Accidents; Bakeries & Bakers; Bread; Schools; Students YELLOW GLOVE Poem Text First Line: What can a yellow glove mean in a world of motorcars and / governments? Subject(s): Arabs - Women; Authors & Authorship; Poetry & Poets YELLOW GLOVE First Line: What can a yellow glove mean in a world of motorcars and %governments? Last Line: Part of the difference between floating and going down Subject(s): Arabs - Women; Authors And Authorship; Poetry And Poets YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL Poem Text First Line: You have to be careful telling things YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE Poem Text First Line: Why do your poems comfort me, I ask myself Subject(s): Poetry & Poets YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE First Line: Why do your poems comfort me, I ask myself Last Line: And then hoping you can YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON A GRAIN OF RICE Poem Text First Line: Blazing pink shirts spill into streets, garden green, full-throated Last Line: Bubbling and softening, changing its life? Subject(s): Parades; Parties |
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