*Discussion Question:
What comes to mind when you think about poetry?
Definition of Poetry:
(Russell, 176-177)
*Poetry is an emotionally charged means of written expression and consists of words arranged in patterns of sound and imagery to spark an emotional, and intellectual response from us.
*Poetry is the language of the imagination, of feelings, of emotional self-expression, of high art.
*Prose explains, but poetry sings.
*The language in poetry is musical, precise, memorable, and magical.
Poetry
by Eleanor Farjeon
What is Poetry? Who Knows?
Not a rose, but the scent of the rose;
Not the sky, but the light in the sky;
Not the fly, but the gleam of the fly;
Not the sea, but the sound of the sea;
Not myself, but what makes me
See, hear, and feel something that prose
Cannot: and what it is who knows?
Sources:
Farjeon, Eleanor. Eleanor Farjeon's Poems For Children. Philadelphia : Lippincott, 1951.
Print.
Russell, David L.. Literature For Children: A Short Introduction. Boston : Pearson/Allyn
&Bacon, 2005. Print.
*Poetry is an emotionally charged means of written expression and consists of words arranged in patterns of sound and imagery to spark an emotional, and intellectual response from us.
*Poetry is the language of the imagination, of feelings, of emotional self-expression, of high art.
*Prose explains, but poetry sings.
*The language in poetry is musical, precise, memorable, and magical.
Poetry
by Eleanor Farjeon
What is Poetry? Who Knows?
Not a rose, but the scent of the rose;
Not the sky, but the light in the sky;
Not the fly, but the gleam of the fly;
Not the sea, but the sound of the sea;
Not myself, but what makes me
See, hear, and feel something that prose
Cannot: and what it is who knows?
Sources:
Farjeon, Eleanor. Eleanor Farjeon's Poems For Children. Philadelphia : Lippincott, 1951.
Print.
Russell, David L.. Literature For Children: A Short Introduction. Boston : Pearson/Allyn
&Bacon, 2005. Print.
Quotes about Poetry:
"Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get YOU.
And all you can do is to go where they can find you."
-A. A. Milne
The House At Pooh Corner (1928)
And all you can do is to go where they can find you."
-A. A. Milne
The House At Pooh Corner (1928)
Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.
~ Rita Dove
Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley
Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.
~ Robert Frost
Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.
~ Dennis Gabor
Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.
~ Robert Frost
Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes.
~ Joseph Roux
Poetry is to prose what dancing is to walking.
~ John Wain
~ Rita Dove
Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley
Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.
~ Robert Frost
Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.
~ Dennis Gabor
Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.
~ Robert Frost
Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes.
~ Joseph Roux
Poetry is to prose what dancing is to walking.
~ John Wain
Source:
BrainyQuote.com. 2012. http://www.brainyquote.com (24 November 2012).
BrainyQuote.com. 2012. http://www.brainyquote.com (24 November 2012).
The Genre of Children's Poetry - An Overview:
An Intuitive Art:
Young children are naturally drawn to poetry. They are enthralled by the sounds, imagery, rhymes, cadences, rhythms and imaginative subject matter that is often found in poetry - children's poetry in particular. So many children's picture books are written in rhyme and young ones develop an ear for poetry very early on. Poetry is often very musical in its flow and children tend to respond in an almost primal way to anything with a rhythm and rhyme. Oftentimes, simple poetry mimics conversational dialog that children may overhear in the course of a day. Songs that children often sing in childhood, or simple nursery rhymes or even repetitive jump rope songs serve as a perfect introduction to poetry. Poetry, for children, is often a very natural art. It's only as we get older and are forced to analyze poetry in school and are taught that poetry has "right and wrong" interpretations, that many of us develop a frustration with or, in some cases, extreme stress with poetry.
What Satisfies Child Poetry Readers?:
I think that lovers of poetry come to this genre in the hopes of experiencing deep emotion or thought. They seek inspiration, engagement and connection with the author. Each reader prefers different styles - rhyming or free verse, for example - or different subject matter like humorous or emotional. Poetry has something for everyone; there is such a range in style, subject matter and mood. The best poetry brings the reader to a deeper level of hilarity, inspiration or human-ness because the author uses the elements of poetry successfully to fully engage the reader. Each word is a gem, chosen for a particular response in the audience; a good poet can hit the reader just right with the right phrasing, word choice, rhythm, rhyme or alliteration. The impact of poetry cannot always be described, like visual art, but one knows when the author has made that deep connection and it keeps the reader coming back for more.
The Power of Poetry:
Poetry can serve as the perfect learning tool for children. Rhyming words often help young ones remember educational concepts or rules. Poems in the classroom can help make curricular areas that may seem uninteresting fun and relatable. Poetry can use very simple language to introduce very deep, emotional topics as well. Educators or care-givers can choose poetry that is relatable to a conversation or current issue at home or in the classroom to use as a catalyst for more discussion or examination of a topic. If someone's pet died, for instance, a poem could serve as a great way to talk about those feelings without putting pressure on the child who has undergone the trauma. Poetry can serve as great bibliotherapy for kids. Poetry can also be used to make curricular or real-life connections. What is most powerful about poetry though, is that it can inspire us all in very deep, personal ways. If children are taught poetry correctly and openly and not drilled about right and wrong interpretation, poetry can serve as a life-long comfort and inspiration for many.
Young children are naturally drawn to poetry. They are enthralled by the sounds, imagery, rhymes, cadences, rhythms and imaginative subject matter that is often found in poetry - children's poetry in particular. So many children's picture books are written in rhyme and young ones develop an ear for poetry very early on. Poetry is often very musical in its flow and children tend to respond in an almost primal way to anything with a rhythm and rhyme. Oftentimes, simple poetry mimics conversational dialog that children may overhear in the course of a day. Songs that children often sing in childhood, or simple nursery rhymes or even repetitive jump rope songs serve as a perfect introduction to poetry. Poetry, for children, is often a very natural art. It's only as we get older and are forced to analyze poetry in school and are taught that poetry has "right and wrong" interpretations, that many of us develop a frustration with or, in some cases, extreme stress with poetry.
What Satisfies Child Poetry Readers?:
I think that lovers of poetry come to this genre in the hopes of experiencing deep emotion or thought. They seek inspiration, engagement and connection with the author. Each reader prefers different styles - rhyming or free verse, for example - or different subject matter like humorous or emotional. Poetry has something for everyone; there is such a range in style, subject matter and mood. The best poetry brings the reader to a deeper level of hilarity, inspiration or human-ness because the author uses the elements of poetry successfully to fully engage the reader. Each word is a gem, chosen for a particular response in the audience; a good poet can hit the reader just right with the right phrasing, word choice, rhythm, rhyme or alliteration. The impact of poetry cannot always be described, like visual art, but one knows when the author has made that deep connection and it keeps the reader coming back for more.
The Power of Poetry:
Poetry can serve as the perfect learning tool for children. Rhyming words often help young ones remember educational concepts or rules. Poems in the classroom can help make curricular areas that may seem uninteresting fun and relatable. Poetry can use very simple language to introduce very deep, emotional topics as well. Educators or care-givers can choose poetry that is relatable to a conversation or current issue at home or in the classroom to use as a catalyst for more discussion or examination of a topic. If someone's pet died, for instance, a poem could serve as a great way to talk about those feelings without putting pressure on the child who has undergone the trauma. Poetry can serve as great bibliotherapy for kids. Poetry can also be used to make curricular or real-life connections. What is most powerful about poetry though, is that it can inspire us all in very deep, personal ways. If children are taught poetry correctly and openly and not drilled about right and wrong interpretation, poetry can serve as a life-long comfort and inspiration for many.
The Nature of Poetry:
I think the reason that the writing and reading of poetry can be such a powerful influence on young people (if presented and taught to them correctly) is because poetry allows children to see themselves and others in a unique way. They can feel happy, sad, lonely or angry and by writing or reading figurative words in rhyme or in imagery that they can relate to, it brings their emotions or feelings outside of themselves so that they can really see them in the "spotlight of art". It is easier to deal with those emotions when one realizes that others can relate to those hidden thoughts inside themselves. Poetry (like all good writing) helps us realize that we are not alone. Oftentimes, a young person's first deep expression of the written word is in poetry. Poetry can serve as a vital therapy for many young people as well as the adults they will one day become. The brevity of words in a poem is almost like a meditation. "Imagery enables poets to create dense meaning with a few words. They use words economically, choosing and polishing each one like a gem to create associations in readers' minds. They do not have to say 'I love you' because they arrange words and rhythms and pictures to create the feeling of love." (Stoodt 144)
Source:
Stoodt, Barbara D.Amspaugh, Linda B.Children's Literature: Discovery For A Lifetime.
Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.
Source:
Stoodt, Barbara D.Amspaugh, Linda B.Children's Literature: Discovery For A Lifetime.
Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.
The Tremendous VALUE of Children's Poetry:
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, a touching children's novel written in verse, is the perfect primer for adults as an introduction to how poetry can positively enhance the lives of young people.
The book consists of journal entries in verse written from a ten year old Jack to his teacher. He begins his journal obstinately, with:
I don't want to
Because boys
don't write poetry,
Girls do.
His teacher, Miss Stretchberry, does a fantastic job of making poetry fun and relatable to Jack over the school-year, introducing him to classic poets like Robert Frost, William Blake and Walter Dean Myers in fun and engaging ways. Jack's poetry improves and he moves from thoughts lacking confidence like this:
Do you promise
not to read it
out loud?
Do you promise
not to put it
on the board?
Okay, here it is
but I don't like it.
As the school-year progresses and Jack gains more confidence with poetry, he writes:
On the board
typed up
they look like
poems
and the other kids
are looking at them
and they think
they really are
poems
and they
are all saying
"Who wrote that?"
He uses poetry to help grieve the death of his beloved dog and even reaches out to an author he admires to invite him to visit his classroom. He gains confidence and pride because his teacher helps him develop his poetic voice. He finds comfort both in reading and writing poetry, as many young people do.
The book consists of journal entries in verse written from a ten year old Jack to his teacher. He begins his journal obstinately, with:
I don't want to
Because boys
don't write poetry,
Girls do.
His teacher, Miss Stretchberry, does a fantastic job of making poetry fun and relatable to Jack over the school-year, introducing him to classic poets like Robert Frost, William Blake and Walter Dean Myers in fun and engaging ways. Jack's poetry improves and he moves from thoughts lacking confidence like this:
Do you promise
not to read it
out loud?
Do you promise
not to put it
on the board?
Okay, here it is
but I don't like it.
As the school-year progresses and Jack gains more confidence with poetry, he writes:
On the board
typed up
they look like
poems
and the other kids
are looking at them
and they think
they really are
poems
and they
are all saying
"Who wrote that?"
He uses poetry to help grieve the death of his beloved dog and even reaches out to an author he admires to invite him to visit his classroom. He gains confidence and pride because his teacher helps him develop his poetic voice. He finds comfort both in reading and writing poetry, as many young people do.
*Discussion Question:
What might make some people nervous or less-than-enthusiastic about poetry?
Poetry Criticisms
Too Difficult?:
Criticism against poetry has always been pretty prevalent. Some adults may feel that poetry is too difficult for children; they may think that literary elements such as symbolism or imagery are above the heads of some students. If poetry is difficult for them, they will assume that it will be difficult for others.
"I Hate Poetry!":
Poetry loses some of its "magic" once students get to Language Arts lessons that teach them that there are right and wrong interpretations of their famous poems. Many times, young people (as well as adults) build up a resentment when they are told that they don't understand something that they always thought was simple. By the time young people get to middle or high school, the majority of students groan when their teacher tells them that they will be writing or reading poetry. That is such a shame! On the other hand, some students have developed a genuine love of writing or reading poetry. The way that poetry is taught can heavily influence the way a student will feel about poetry for the rest of their lives. It is similar to math in that way.
The Irreverent Shel Silverstein:
There has been some criticism toward some poetry for young people, even to the point of censorship. Shel Silverstein, a children's poet known for his irreverence and humor, has been challenged many times, beginning in the 1970s until present day. His challengers have accused him of encouraging young people to do everything from "break dishes so they won't have to dry them" to drug use to rebellion against parents to violence. Silverstein's poems require a reader with a sense of humor, sarcasm and fun and most children have that in abundance. If read literally, some of his poems would be rather disturbing, but poetry and fiction are not to be taken literally. Silverstein still remains to be one of the most popular children's authors and most adults recognize his work as genius and not of the evil variety.
Source:
Sager, Jeanne. "Banned Books Week: Shel Silverstein." Yahoo! Shine. Yahoo! Inc., 3 Oct.
2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/banned-books-week-shel-
silverstein-278259.html>.
Criticism against poetry has always been pretty prevalent. Some adults may feel that poetry is too difficult for children; they may think that literary elements such as symbolism or imagery are above the heads of some students. If poetry is difficult for them, they will assume that it will be difficult for others.
"I Hate Poetry!":
Poetry loses some of its "magic" once students get to Language Arts lessons that teach them that there are right and wrong interpretations of their famous poems. Many times, young people (as well as adults) build up a resentment when they are told that they don't understand something that they always thought was simple. By the time young people get to middle or high school, the majority of students groan when their teacher tells them that they will be writing or reading poetry. That is such a shame! On the other hand, some students have developed a genuine love of writing or reading poetry. The way that poetry is taught can heavily influence the way a student will feel about poetry for the rest of their lives. It is similar to math in that way.
The Irreverent Shel Silverstein:
There has been some criticism toward some poetry for young people, even to the point of censorship. Shel Silverstein, a children's poet known for his irreverence and humor, has been challenged many times, beginning in the 1970s until present day. His challengers have accused him of encouraging young people to do everything from "break dishes so they won't have to dry them" to drug use to rebellion against parents to violence. Silverstein's poems require a reader with a sense of humor, sarcasm and fun and most children have that in abundance. If read literally, some of his poems would be rather disturbing, but poetry and fiction are not to be taken literally. Silverstein still remains to be one of the most popular children's authors and most adults recognize his work as genius and not of the evil variety.
Source:
Sager, Jeanne. "Banned Books Week: Shel Silverstein." Yahoo! Shine. Yahoo! Inc., 3 Oct.
2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/banned-books-week-shel-
silverstein-278259.html>.
Source of above verse:
Silverstein, Shel. Where The Sidewalk Ends: The Poems & Drawings Of Shel Silverstein.
New York : Harper And Row, 1974. Print.
Silverstein, Shel. Where The Sidewalk Ends: The Poems & Drawings Of Shel Silverstein.
New York : Harper And Row, 1974. Print.
Great video illustrating Silverstein's "My Beard" here!