Today was “Take Your Poet to Work Day,” so decided by Tweetspeak Poetry. What exactly is “Take Your Poet to Work Day? I’ll let Tweetspeak explain:
On Wednesday, July 17, we invite you to pick a poet to pack in your lunchbox for Take Your Poet to Work Day. You can browse our collection of ready-for-work poets. Then just cut out, color and secure your chosen poet to a stick and you’re ready to go. Impress your boss. Delight your coworkers. Amuse your fellow subway passengers. Our new Take Your Poet to Work Day infographic has everything you need to celebrate the day.
While Tweetspeak provides a number of ready-to-print poets, none of the options were really “my poet.” Sure Eliot’s great and all, but my poet is John Donne. Thankfully, John was willing to join me for the day. He even put on his best hat.
But today was no ordinary work day. No, today I was flying from Winnipeg, Manitoba to St. Louis, Missouri in preparation for meetings tomorrow. And that meant just one thing: the dear divine doctor would have to keep me company on the trip.
The day began in my office, getting ready for the afternoon flight. I told John our travel plans, but he took some convincing before coming along.
“Shall I leave all this office company,
And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?”
From there we got our tickets, passed through security, and waited awhile for our flight to board. John took the opportunity to reread one or two of his published works:
“For God’s sake, hold your tongue and let me read.”
The first flight passed quickly. A few hours and sonnets later (as well as a brief lay-over in St. Paul, Minnesota), we were approaching St. Louis, Missouri. As you can imagine, John was pleased we were nearly there.
“This is my flight’s last leg; here heavens appoint my pilgrimage’s last mile.”
We arrived safe and sound in St. Louis and made our way to the hotel where we’re staying. But first we needed to stop for a haircut (for me; John politely refused), and to pick up something to eat (courtesy of Raising Cane’s Chicken). As the day ended, we settled down in the hotel room and enjoyed our supper. John wanted More but I told him he was Donne.
“What if this chicken were the world’s last bite?”
Thus ended our great adventure on “Take Your Poet to Work Day.” And now it’s time we got some sleep.
“Enough, thou clock, for that harmonious chime
Tells me from you that now it is bed-time.”
Good night.
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