(Poetry Is) Practically Perfect in Every Way

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Tara at Going to Walden for Roundup.

This past weekend we saw MARY POPPINS RETURNS.  Mary Poppins, as you may recall, gazes upon her reflection and declares herself, "practically perfect in every way."

And she is!

I love how that kind of vanity coexists with her way of giving others exactly what they need, yet not needing any sort of credit for it. Mary Poppins just does what she does, and then poof, a door opens, and she lifts that umbrella and floats away on a breeze.

Magic!

The new movie is full of magic, too. There was one scene in particular that made me think:,poetry! Mary Poppins takes the children to visit her cousin (played by Meryl Streep) whose world, unfortunately, is "turning turtle." CLICK HERE for the fun, beautiful audio of the song. Ultimately it's about changing perspectives - how looking at the world differently can impact your life. Of course this is true for poetry as well... allow your world to turn turtle, and your poems (and readers!) will thank you!

And now a poem for 2 Marys: Poppins & Oliver. Can you find the bits in the poem for each Mary?

This Poem is Practically Perfect

for Mary Poppins & Mary Oliver

This poem knows

the worst thing

is a mind

with its windows

jammed shut –

that's why

it isn't afraid

to go flipsy-flopsy.

Is there any better way

to get out of a rut?

This poem peers

into mirrors

and smiles

at what it sees.

It floats across days

and continents –

through sleet or heat –

with a cloud's ease.

This poem wakes early

and takes

twilight hikes.

It finds music

in the moon –

MOON Moon mooooon.

Whatever your troubles,

this poem is here

to tell you:

things will get better

soon.

- Irene Latham