Cathy keeps the books she's reading on her side of the bed, on the floor.  I keep mine on the other side.  Occasionally I sneak over to find out what's over there, and almost every time it's something I wished I were reading.  This past month it was "Saved by a Poem" by Kim Rosen.  And next to it was a poem, many pages in length, "Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman.  Later, I learned that Cathy has been learning the poem by heart.

Now, Cathy is one of those people who hears one or two notes of music and can remember not just the song, but most - if not all - of the lyrics as well.  I, on the other hand, toured with John Denver for many years, hearing every concert in every venue, and still cannot sing "Annie's Song" all the way through.

Still, in little snatches, I began reading this wonderful book, where Kim described the healing transformation that took place in her mind, body and spirit when she began to learn poetry by heart.  She suggests that choosing a poem you love, learning it word for word, and then saying it over and over will flood your heart and soul.

Hmmmm.  Why not give it a try?  I have loved Whitman since college so I am now learning "Song of the Open Road" by heart.  I decided to stick to just several of my favorite verses, but even learning those feels like tackling Homer's entire Odyssey.  But do you know what?  The magic is taking over.  As the verses go from reading, to speaking, to memorizing, to feeling them from my heart, something extraordinary is happening.  Like Kim had forecast, I am beginning to really get the words.  I recognized that when simple, tangible words are strung together so masterfully - like wood and stone rubbed just so - a spark is created and it ignites my soul. 

It's summer.  Why not begin your own search? Find a poem that pierces your center with beauty and truth, and learn it from the heart.

Tom Crum