National Poetry Day
"Poetry is just the evidence of your life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash."
Leonard Cohen
I know it's a shame to open with a quote from a non-New Zealand poet today of all days but Leonard Cohen is one of my all time favourites. I am sitting here surrounded by all these wonderful books of poetry and I am ashamed to admit that the only poets I can quote off by heart are not New Zealanders. I will definitely have to make an effort.
So to celebrate National Poetry Day, here's another little quote from Leonard Cohen:
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."
And to get into the swing of National Poetry Day, why don't I, and you, read some James K Baxter or Hera Lindsay Bird or Dave Eggers or Vincent O'Sullivan or Lauris Edmond or Cilla McQueen or Brian Turner or Sam Hunt or any one of our many talented and successful poets.
