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By Heather Skipworth Craven
"Poetry is not made out of the understanding. The question of common sense is always:
"What is it good for?" a question which would abolish the rose, and be triumphantly
answered by the cabbage."
- J.R. Lowell
"Poetry reveals to us the loveliness of nature, brings back the freshness of youthful feeling,
revives the relish of simple pleasures, keeps unquenched the enthusiasm which warmed
the springtime of our being, refines youthful love, strengthens our interest in human nature,
by vivid delineations of its tenderest and softest feelings, and, through the brightness of its
prophetic visions, helps faith to lay hold on the future life."
- Channing
Beyond "Roses Are Red"... Yes, there's much more truth to those words AND poetry. I've
always had a passion for reading and writing poetry. There's perfection in words put together
in such a way as to paint unimaginable beauty and stir up an endless spectrum of emotions.
I dare say those of us who are parents sang nursery rhymes and poems to our own infants.
Our children's first books were probably simple rhymes, Mother Goose, and Dr. Seuss.
Poetry is a wonderful way to introduce children to the rhythm and musicality of language, as
well as being an incredibly expressive outlet.
I do remember quite vividly my own teachers who regularly used poetry for teaching writing or
for the purposes of enrichment. I recall in particular one teacher I had in the sixth grade.
Actually her primary subject was Spelling and most of the class is a blur in my memory now,
but anytime she had the opportunity, she would read aloud to us, and poetry was most often
her choice. I loved listening to her voice rise and fall in the pure magic of the words. She had
the ability to bring the poetry to life, to create images for us, and make it a reality.
I've been writing poetry as long as I can remember. Growing up achingly shy, but very
sensitive, it provided a welcome escape and a vehicle to channel my emotions and desires.
I still wince at the memory of a college English professor, and I use the term very loosely,
who required us to write a descriptive paragraph and/or poem. I of course smugly thought to
myself that this assignment was going to be a poetic "piece of cake". I chose to write about a
rose, and proceeded to dramatically describe the thorns as guards protecting the treasure
above. I just knew that I would astound this professor with my awesome poetic talent. Well, I
received my first real scourge of criticism for my literary efforts. My flowery poem was
"plucked" to shreds, petal by melodramatic petal. I did manage to get over that gaping wound
in my artistic ego, have continued to write and yes, accept with a bit more open heart,
criticism.
Teaching students both the appreciation of poetry and skills to access their own creativity is
not only necessary but also very vital. Poetry adds a further dimension to help a child test the
waters of his or her own language. It offers a form of creative expression that is intensely
personal, and an extension of oneself. Poetry reading and writing is a genre that
incorporates and stimulates all of the senses. It serves not only as an artistic expression,
but also as tremendous outlet for emotional release.
How then do we accomplish the goal of instilling an appreciation of poetry and encourage
our students to begin writing their own poetry?
Offer a wide variety of exposure to poetry in different forms in books, tapes, and everyday
classroom activities.
Begin collecting different kinds and forms of poetry in books and activities for you own
classroom files.
Engage your students in simple activities involving rhyming words, descriptive language
(metaphors, similes, alliteration, etc.) to reading and writing in different poetic styles.
Read and study great poets from the past and present.
Offer ideas that will serve as "poetry starters" for your students to use poetry to express their
feelings on specific subjects such as "My Favorite Things", "If I Were King For A Day", "My
Best Friend", and so on.
Giving a child an appreciation for poetry is truly a gift. It enables him to utilize a tremendous
self-expressive vehicle, while creating something that is uniquely independent and personal.
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