How to Eat a Poem

I'm new to this group. I enjoy simple poetry that doesn't tax my brain trying to figure it out. I was going thru my books and found this little book of poems I have had since grade school. The titile is Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle The copyright date is 1966. I think I ordered it or bought it a Scholastic book fair. The pages are yellowed but surprisingly the cover is in very good shape. On the back cover is a little poem I would like to share with all of you.

"How to Eat a Poem"

Don't be polite
Bite in
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice
that may run down your chin.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away

Eve Merriam

Hi and welcome :)

I know the poem you posted. If I remember correctly I used to see it as the start of a group for poetry on livejournal. Things have been quiet here for a while, maybe you can help ignite some passion !

KathiJ, I have that book, and love it -- it was used as a textbook in my Jr. High English class, and I still remember many of the poems in it.

Thats a really nice poem. Do you have any other favorites in that specific book that you can share with us?

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold.

--William Carlos Williams