S3 E3: Celebrating World Poetry Day with Carrie Williams Clifford

March 21, 2023 marks the celebration of World Poetry Day.

This day was established by UNESCO in 1999 to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry worldwide. The celebration aims to recognize the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind and to promote cultural exchange and understanding. On this day, people from all over the world come together to appreciate the beauty and power of poetry, and to reflect on its importance in our lives.

Carrie Williams Clifford was an American poet who lived from 1862 to 1934. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, she began writing poetry at a young age. Clifford published her first collection of poetry, "The Widening Light," in 1893 and went on to publish several more collections throughout her career. Her poetry often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human experience. She was an active member of the women's suffrage movement and used her poetry to advocate for women's rights.

Quest by Carrie Williams Clifford

My goal out-distances the utmost star,
Yet is encompassed in my inmost Soul;
I am my goal—my quest, to know myself.
To chart and compass this unfathomed sea,
Myself must plumb the boundless universe.
My Soul contains all thought, all mystery,
All wisdom of the Great Infinite Mind:
This is to discover, I must voyage far,
At last to find it in my pulsing heart.

This poem is in the public domain.

Music by Jo Wandrini “Puzzle of Complexity” Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ctczJjeHrf/