Shelter in Poems: "Though we have been / apart, we have been together."

“In Naomi Shihab Nye’s ‘Kindness,’ I recognize that showing up for each other—to see and feel and empathize with both the difficult and the beautiful—is the crux of this thing. As part of the recovery community, I’ve learned how important it is to live each moment, one day at a time, not only for myself but for the greater community. Although it’s easy today to feel overwhelmed by anxiety and suffering, reaching towards others is always a worthwhile endeavor.”
         —S. M., Switzerland.

“Emma Lazarus’s ‘The New Colossus’ actually changed the meaning of the Statue of Liberty, which originally had nothing to do with immigration. The poem redefines America as a ‘nation of immigrants,’ and allows us to think of ourselves as great not because we are warriors, but because we are generous and welcoming. This was its meaning when my grandparents came here at the turn of the twentieth century, and it is still the meaning for many millions of Americans.”
         —Alicia Ostriker, Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.

“‘Women’s voting rights at one hundred (but who’s counting?)’ by Evie Shockley serves as a reminder of the necessity to wake up and take action—even when COVID-19 is looming all around us. Even when it seems like our purpose in life is significantly declining amidst this sheltering in, the one thing we can do is make sure we never lose sight of what needs to be done in order to guarantee a safe future for everyone.”
         —Leslie R. G.

“I return to ‘The Layers’ by Stanley Kunitz at times of sadness and grief. He reminds me once again to embrace my losses, to understand that they are as much a part of me as my triumphs.”
         —Lee R. 

“Jon Davis’s ‘Gratitude’ is a poem which understands bitterness, failure, loss, and defeat. How do we take shelter if not under the umbrella of gratitude?”
         —Jim M.