There are a lot of great examples out there of “how to” poems but How to Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam has always been one of my favorites.
Here’s my first draft.
How to Be Beautiful
Stand up straight.
Smile at everyone you see.
Smile at the tired clerk at the store
and the guy who cuts you off in traffic
and the homeless man begging for change
outside the library.
Smile big and wide
and don’t worry if your receding gums show.
Let your smile dance up to your eyes
until the sides of your face pull up into
little lines of happiness
then watch your smile somersault
away to dance for a stranger.
You do not need perfect skin
a perfect body
expensive clothes
in order to be beautiful.
Just smile.
Susan Taylor Brown
Two important messages in your poems, two days in a row. You never cease to amaze, Susan.
I love “Smile big and wide/and don’t worry if your receding gums show.”
also “watch your smile somersault/ away to dance for a stranger.”
Beautiful words. Fabulous message.
Thank you!
The anonymous message was from me, ellie. Sorry I didn’t notice that my name had disappeared from the “Leave a Reply” prompt.
Thanks for letting me know, ellie! It always make me smile to know you have been here.
HOW TO FALL GRACEFULLY
An expert on falling
That I must be
Fallen countless times
With dignity where possible
I always wear long pants
Views up skirts are not pretty
When falling backwards downstairs
In front of a row of strangers at work
I have fallen out of a bus and a train
Thankfully never out of a plane
Oh what a mess that would be
Not to mention the damage to me
I have fallen over the side of a cliff
Managing to hang on by a thread
I have fallen off a ladder, a chair, a table
Making my life not so stable
I have flown out of a shop
Material on tiles, not a good mix
Who said people can’t fly
Sure felt like it until I hit the ground
I used to bounce no so anymore
Even much harder to get up now
So advice to oneself – please listen
must be time to give up this profession
Or at least I can try
– Anne Mckenna
We are all experts at some things we wish we weren’t, right? 🙂 Love this one.