Pilgrimage to Poets House in NYC

This morning I woke to the sound of a small click that announces an email arriving on my cell phone. In the next few moments I checked and saw it was the daily message from The Library of Congress, Poem 057, White-Eyes by Mary Oliver: In winter / all the singing is in/the tops of trees…and my day begins.

Last week on Wednesday, I woke in New York City to the busy sounds of Times Square. My  grown son who was in the city on business had invited me to spend a day with him, the rarest of occasions in our too busy lives. The weather was windy, cold and  a steady rain. Not inviting. As with the best visits, we had no agenda. I had arrived the previous day with the intention of making a visit to Poets House to deliver my chapbook to the library but had not made it because of timing and distractions on Fifth Avenue. We decided to make the trip to 10 River Terrace in Battery Park. I had the directions and we ventured into the subway.

We entered daylight again at Chambers Station in a downpour and wind storm. We looked at the map and walked toward the water. Poets House. We entered  and found refuge.

Poets House was founded by Stanley Kunitz and Elizabeth Kray as a library and gathering place for everyone who values the art of poetry. An entire beautiful space dedicated to poetry. My son whose business is finance was astounded. How does this place exist?  His first question concerned funding. I too was astounded to have arrived finally at this place thats only purpose is to honor poetry. We were greeted and welcomed by friendly faces. Books of and about poetry, portraits of poets. Tables and couches. Quiet reading rooms. I meet with the wonderful librarian, Maggie Balistreri as she graciously accepted my chapbook. I took a deep breath and walked up and down the stacks pulling a book here and there, reading familiar lines, familiar titles and names. Some, the best of friends.  I finally setteled at a table across from my son and felt comforted that such a place exists in this day, in this world, at this time. And I, so fortunate to have finally arrived accompanied by my son.  Poetry continues to save my life everyday.