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Light: A National Poetry Day Book
A free poetry book to celebrate National Poetry Day 2015 with poems on the them of light from Deborah Alma, Brian Moses, Chrissie Gittins, Liz Brownlee, Michaela Morgan, Jan Dean, Paul Cookson, Roger Stevens, Joseph Cohelo, Indigo Williams and Sally Crabtree.
National Poetry Day is a mass celebration, a special day on which all are invited to discover and share the enjoyment of poems. It's a chance to let language off the leash and to relish the sounds that words can make when they are spoken with delight.
We hope that the poems in this book - all inspired by this year's National Poetry Day theme of light - will kindle an enthusiasm for poetry that continues to grow long after the day itself,Thursday 8 October 2015, has passed.
- GenresPoetry
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2015
46 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 17, 2019
This kindle freebie is a nice little collection of poetry. I actually enjoyed seeing which poems the poets chose more than anything.
October 18, 2019
It's always good to expand your reading boundaries so I downloaded this (for free on Kindle) and had a little reading break from fiction to read some poetry. I'm not ready any judge on what's good or bad on poetry.
You know when a song sticks in your head? Is it possible for that to happen with poetry?
Well, not to make anyone have the same problem but...
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"
II
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
III
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
What is a runcible spoon? A spork!
You know when a song sticks in your head? Is it possible for that to happen with poetry?
Well, not to make anyone have the same problem but...
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"
II
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
III
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
What is a runcible spoon? A spork!
September 30, 2019
I was on the hunt for some new poetry books to read and found this free book to download. I so enjoyed reading it and felt the presentation was excellent. With inspiration and thoughts on each of the pieces, this really added something special, as well as each section being dedicated to a poet. I immediately felt inspired to write some new pieces myself and this is always the sign of great literature. I would highly recommend this and the lovely theme too.
March 31, 2022
I stumbled across this book while doing some research for a future book. The introduction to the book states, “The poems here are the work of the National Poetry Day ambassadors—twelve extraordinary poets who spend their lives thinking of fresh ways to make words resonate.”
I enjoyed the free verse and free-style poetry, all written using the theme of light. The poets each had a section dedicated to them that explained their thoughts on poetic inspiration, including their favorite poem written by someone else. I found the poetry writing tips to be helpful. This was a lovely read, and the book is free. If you’re looking for some poetic inspiration and enjoyment, have a read!
I enjoyed the free verse and free-style poetry, all written using the theme of light. The poets each had a section dedicated to them that explained their thoughts on poetic inspiration, including their favorite poem written by someone else. I found the poetry writing tips to be helpful. This was a lovely read, and the book is free. If you’re looking for some poetic inspiration and enjoyment, have a read!
December 20, 2025
Sadly not inspiring or a must-read.
May 3, 2021
A diverse insight into various perspectives of "Light" and what the word has come to represent in the minds of many: be that of physical warmth; the light at the end of the tunnel; the passage of time and how we, as a species, should be enlightened by the gift of what we have today; the setting and rising of the sun; and arguably the most vivid and meaningful interpretation, the light of life.
The reason I gave this three stars is because I felt while all the poems were creative and brilliant in their own way, only some truly connected with me on a personal level and in those instances, I took something special from the work(s) and the writer(s).
The reason I gave this three stars is because I felt while all the poems were creative and brilliant in their own way, only some truly connected with me on a personal level and in those instances, I took something special from the work(s) and the writer(s).
August 10, 2017
What a lovely little book! I first found this book hoping to just get a broader taste of some of the more recent poets, but was pleasantly surprised to find that this book not only had great poetry, but also people's thought processes, advice, and inspirations. What a better work to read during National Poetry Day? If only I had known it existed beforehand. Re-reading this book is definitely something I hope to do when the day rolls back around!
This book would also serve as an amazing educational tool in schools, with many of the poet's being children's authors.
This book would also serve as an amazing educational tool in schools, with many of the poet's being children's authors.
September 25, 2022
I really enjoyed reading these playful & joyful light poems. Thanks for the writing tips, I learned a lot more about how to write better and play with my words.
Poems that I Liked: Moonlit Apples, Playing With Stars, The Shortest Days, Light As Birds, Six Facts About Light, Bright Spark, The Sun At Midnight, Sliver, Beware Of The Grey, I Love The Moon, But, Light-Bringer, Meditations At Dawn, Tattoo Of Light.
Poems that I Liked: Moonlit Apples, Playing With Stars, The Shortest Days, Light As Birds, Six Facts About Light, Bright Spark, The Sun At Midnight, Sliver, Beware Of The Grey, I Love The Moon, But, Light-Bringer, Meditations At Dawn, Tattoo Of Light.
May 23, 2018
The layout used in this book of collected poems is clever. There's a poem, author bio, tips on writing, and a selected poem from a well-known poet. It really breaks it up and makes 'Light' easy to read. My favourite piece here is "Playing with Stars" by Brian Moses but "Beware The Grey" by Paul Cookson is a close second. This is a freebie, by the way, so there's no excuse for not reading it.
February 19, 2021
Illuminating
Okay bad pun but nevertheless it does describe this wonderful little book of poetry. It contains poems old and new as a collection of poets choose a poem of their own and then one from a poet they admire. All on the vast subject of light. What's not to like? BTW it's free!
Okay bad pun but nevertheless it does describe this wonderful little book of poetry. It contains poems old and new as a collection of poets choose a poem of their own and then one from a poet they admire. All on the vast subject of light. What's not to like? BTW it's free!
March 21, 2017
I read this book as a celebration for the World Poetry Day. It has beautiful poems on light. I feel that I am very intimate with sunlight and loved most of the poems in this collection. Getting inspired, I also wrote my own poem on sunlight. The poem on light ending this book by Tagore and a poem on light and how our experience with light is more spiritual than scientific by Emily Dickinson were my two most favorite poems from this little gem of a book...
May 6, 2024
What a complete gem of a poetry book! Some beautiful poems in here and all for free! As a fledgling poet the tips from other writers were brilliant and I found the book very inspiring and will re read some of these poems over and over -definitely lit a light inside me!
April 2, 2019
This is a cute collection of poetry with the theme of light. I enjoyed reading this and thought it was a lovely collection with great ideas.
June 30, 2019
A perfect, quick read for poetry lovers.
June 7, 2021
Good read
It was good that the poems had what inspired it and it gave very good writing tips that anyone can use its a good read
It was good that the poems had what inspired it and it gave very good writing tips that anyone can use its a good read
June 14, 2023
There are some lovely poems included in this short book of poetry to celebrate world poetry day all based around light.
January 23, 2026
Apparently, as much as I love writing poetry, I don't exactly enjoy reading poetry, especially if it doesn't rhyme 100%. I did enjoy reading the inspiration behind each poem, though.
April 27, 2022
“You can’t even begin to do the dawn justice
In a poem”
- from "I Love the Moon, But" by Roger Stevens
This was way more than I thought it was going to be! I loved reading about the inspiration for the different poems, and the recommended poems were a treat to read too.
In a poem”
- from "I Love the Moon, But" by Roger Stevens
This was way more than I thought it was going to be! I loved reading about the inspiration for the different poems, and the recommended poems were a treat to read too.
December 4, 2015
A great little collection of poems brought together all using the theme of light.
Each poet has a section of the book dedicated to them where it says little about who they are, shows the poem they created using the theme of light, what their inspiration is to writing poems, some writing tips on how they create them along with a favourite poem of theirs by someone else. A great reference book for people who want to get a feel for whether they would like poetry – either to read or maybe have a go at writing for themselves.
My favourite poems were Playing with Stars by Brian Moses and Beware of the Grey by Paul Cookson.
Playing with Stars by Brian Moses:
Young children know what it’s like
to play with stars.
First of all it’s a wink and a smile
from some distant constellation,
then it’s hide and seek as they disappear
in a cover of cloud.
Sometimes children see how far
they can travel to a star
before familiar voices call them
home to bed.
Like all good games, of course,
you need to use a little imagination
when playing with stars.
More experienced players
can jump over stars or shake down a star.
Some can trap them in butterfly nets,
but you should always let them loose again.
Stars grow pale and die it you cage them.
Sometimes the stars tell stories
of their journeys across the sky
and sometimes they stay silent.
At these times children may travel themselves,
wandering a line that unravels
through their dreams.
At these times too the stars play their own games,
falling from the sky when there’s no one there to catch them.
Sometimes you find these stars on the ground,
dazed and confused. Be warned though:
even fallen stars may be hot to touch.
Young children know what it’s like
to rescue stars, to hold them gently
in gloved hands and then,
with one almighty fling,
sling them back to the sky.
Adults forget what it’s like
to play with stars,
and when children offer to teach them
they’re far too busy.
I liked this one as it shows the innocence of children and the use of their own imaginations. It shows how when you get older you tend to lose that child like essence and it takes a child imagination to try and bring it back to you. How many of us as children thought you could catch a star? I know I did – I mean there was even a song about it ‘catch a falling star and put it in your pocket save it for a rainy day’.
Beware The Grey by Paul Cookson:
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Fading your dreams
And ambitions away
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Melting the night time
Into the day
He’ll take all the colours
And drain them away
Beware of the evil
Beware of The Grey
Whatever you do
Whatever you say
Keep you eyes open
Beware of The Grey
Don’t put off tomorrow
What can be today
Follow your vision
Beware of The Grey
He’ll shade all your dreams
And whisper and say
Don’t worry – give up
Beware of The Grey
Where there’s a will
There’s always a way
Little by little
Beware of The Grey
He’ll suck out your dreams
And say It’s okay …
Accept second best
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Fading your dreams
And ambitions a
w
a
y …
I liked this one as it’s trying to get you to be aware of things that could bring you down. It wants you to dream big and never give up on them. Don’t let anyone say you can’t do it, just always try your best before your dreams start to fade away.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Each poet has a section of the book dedicated to them where it says little about who they are, shows the poem they created using the theme of light, what their inspiration is to writing poems, some writing tips on how they create them along with a favourite poem of theirs by someone else. A great reference book for people who want to get a feel for whether they would like poetry – either to read or maybe have a go at writing for themselves.
My favourite poems were Playing with Stars by Brian Moses and Beware of the Grey by Paul Cookson.
Playing with Stars by Brian Moses:
Young children know what it’s like
to play with stars.
First of all it’s a wink and a smile
from some distant constellation,
then it’s hide and seek as they disappear
in a cover of cloud.
Sometimes children see how far
they can travel to a star
before familiar voices call them
home to bed.
Like all good games, of course,
you need to use a little imagination
when playing with stars.
More experienced players
can jump over stars or shake down a star.
Some can trap them in butterfly nets,
but you should always let them loose again.
Stars grow pale and die it you cage them.
Sometimes the stars tell stories
of their journeys across the sky
and sometimes they stay silent.
At these times children may travel themselves,
wandering a line that unravels
through their dreams.
At these times too the stars play their own games,
falling from the sky when there’s no one there to catch them.
Sometimes you find these stars on the ground,
dazed and confused. Be warned though:
even fallen stars may be hot to touch.
Young children know what it’s like
to rescue stars, to hold them gently
in gloved hands and then,
with one almighty fling,
sling them back to the sky.
Adults forget what it’s like
to play with stars,
and when children offer to teach them
they’re far too busy.
I liked this one as it shows the innocence of children and the use of their own imaginations. It shows how when you get older you tend to lose that child like essence and it takes a child imagination to try and bring it back to you. How many of us as children thought you could catch a star? I know I did – I mean there was even a song about it ‘catch a falling star and put it in your pocket save it for a rainy day’.
Beware The Grey by Paul Cookson:
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Fading your dreams
And ambitions away
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Melting the night time
Into the day
He’ll take all the colours
And drain them away
Beware of the evil
Beware of The Grey
Whatever you do
Whatever you say
Keep you eyes open
Beware of The Grey
Don’t put off tomorrow
What can be today
Follow your vision
Beware of The Grey
He’ll shade all your dreams
And whisper and say
Don’t worry – give up
Beware of The Grey
Where there’s a will
There’s always a way
Little by little
Beware of The Grey
He’ll suck out your dreams
And say It’s okay …
Accept second best
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Beware of The Grey
Fading your dreams
And ambitions a
w
a
y …
I liked this one as it’s trying to get you to be aware of things that could bring you down. It wants you to dream big and never give up on them. Don’t let anyone say you can’t do it, just always try your best before your dreams start to fade away.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
December 7, 2015
This was a free download for National Poetry Day. It's a nice little collection on the theme of light and there are several gems in there. Most of all it reminded me that I keep meaning to read more poetry! Maybe next year.
November 23, 2021
To celebrate National Poetry Day I decided to read some poetry. These books were well set out with a section about the poet themselves, a poem that they had written, the poet's inspiration and a poem of their choice. I read the books in one sitting, but you could easily spend more time on them.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews