Eve Merriam quotes:

Scratch a Jew and you'll find a Wailing Wall.

whatever you do, find ways to read poerty. Eat it, drink it, enjoy it, and share it.

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, Mother, what was war?

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask: "Mother, what was war?"

The touch of your fingersgrazing minedelicate asa single drop of winein a crystal goblet.Rolling it round,I savor it on my tongue,try tomake it lastforever.The words Iloveyouform in the airand melt. Your palm againstmy cheek,light asa snowflake.

Don't be polite.Bite in.Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are. You do not need a knife or fork or spoon.For there is no coreor stemor rindor pitor seedor skinto throw away.

It's just an old alley cat that has followed us all the way home. It hasn't a star on its forehead, or a silky satiny coat. No proud tiger stripes, no dainty tread, no elegant velvet throat. It's a splotchy, blotchy city cat, not a pretty cat, a rough little bag of old bones. 'Beauty,' we shall call you. 'Beauty' come in.

When something is too beautiful or too terrible or even too funny for words, then it is time for poetry.

Morning is a new sheet of paper for you to write on.

...a good poem contains both meaning and music