We do poetry regularly for school, which consists of reading poetry. This is one of the kids' favorite things, perhaps because they are not required to do anything but listen, but they do really seem to enjoy poetry itself. This term's poet was Walter de la Mare, who wrote mystical, evocative poems on themes that mostly appeal to children. We read this one today and it seemed the perfect description of their world:
The Universe
by Walter de la Mare
I
heard a little child beneath the stars
Talk
as he ran along
To
some sweet riddle in his mind that seemed
A-tiptoe
into song.
In his
dark eyes lay a wild universe,--
Wild
forests, peaks, and crests;
Angels
and fairies, giants, wolves and he
Were
that world's only guests.
Elsewhere
was home and mother, his warm bed:--
Now,
only God alone
Could,
armed with all His power and wisdom, make
Earths
richer than his own.
O Man!
-- thy dreams, thy passions, hopes, desires!--
He in
his pity keep
A
homely bed where love may lull a child's
Fond
Universe asleep!
3 comments:
I think the rhythm of language itself is an appealing facet of poetry to children.
Of course, I love poetry myself, so I may be biased.
Wow! I love that poem!
Also, great blog redesign!
I only have one who enjoys poetry (well, two, if you include the three year old who loves Dr. Seuss). But I love it myself.
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