Poetry Week!

April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate that occasion, I’m posting some of my favorite poems. A week early! Because I can!

The Coach of Life – Alexander Pushkin

Though often somewhat heavy-freighted,
The coach rolls at an easy pace;
And Time, the coachman, grizzly-pated,
But smart, alert---is in his place.

We board it lightly in the morning
And on our way at once proceed.
Repose and slothful comfort scorning,
We shout: "Hey, there! Get on! Full speed!"

Noon finds us done with reckless daring,
And shaken up. Now care's the rule.
Down hills, through gulleys roughly faring,
We sulk, and cry: "Hey, easy fool!"

The coach rolls on, no pitfalls dodging.
At dusk, to pains more wonted grown,
We drowse, while to the night's dark lodging
Old coachman Time drives on, drives on.

I found this poem just this week in a thrift store book, An Anthology of Russian Verse 1812-1960. In amongst the poems of fallen comrades and Russian pride and long winters there was this piece, a poem about traveling through life. I love poems that tell a story, especially in a clever way. This poem appealed to me because of how lyrical it seems, as soon as I saw it I wanted to read it out loud. It’s the type of poem that sounds just as good in your mouth as it does on paper and that’s pretty rare.