can you post your favorite poem?

Twas the Night Before Christmas (or A Visit from St. Nicholas) by Clement Clarke Moore [i]'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there... [/i] and on it goes. I was nine years old in Grade Three, and teacher made me recite this as part of a program during our class Christmas party. She told me to tell my mother to come and join. Funny, but I don't remember how it went when I actually performed, but I remember my mother standing by the window along the school's corridor, while I was playing around before the party began. Merry Christmas!

This has always been my favorite poem as I think it is so true in life. The Road not Taken Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear; though as for that, the passing there had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay in leaves no feet had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference

This is one of my favorites. Written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, it totally captures the kind of person one can truly have a wonderful relationship with. The Invitation It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dream for the adventure of being alive. It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon... I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain mine or your own without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy mine or your own if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful to be realistic to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes.” It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back. It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

This is my favorite... my guide. DESIDERATA (by Max Ehrmann- 1952) go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence as far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. speak you truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant they too have their story avoid loud and aggressive persons they are vexations to the spirit if you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself enjoy your achievements as well as your plans keep interested in your own career however humble it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery but let this not blind you to what virtue there is many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere, life is full of heroism. be yourself especially, do not feign affection neither be cynical about love for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself you are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should therefore be at peace with God whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul with all its sham drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world be cheerful strive to be happy