Today is National Poetry, an annual celebration of the wonder of the written word and rhyme.
Poetry often gets a bad rep, accused of being an obscure and inaccessible remnant from dusky, dark corners of literary history... when in true fact, poetry is power. It's not all The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner! Poetry can be read, listened to, spoken, performed. There is a reason why poems are read at weddings, funerals and numerous other notable occasions - because a poem can speak for a collective human experience. Sometimes there is nothing more satisfying or unifying than reading a
poem written by a stranger who has managed to convey exactly what you
are feeling in their own words. It has the capacity to make you feel less alone.
Poetry is also so important for children. It allows for so many opportunities for growth and enjoyment. Consuming such a variety of texts improves children's reading, listening and speaking skills. It allows them to explore intriguing new vocabulary and ways of putting pen to paper, sparking off a deluge of imaginative ideas. Reading poetry with children can be a useful tool in encouraging empathy as often it introduces readers to different perspectives and voices... and it can really make children giggle. Put any child in front of Michael Rosen's wonderful 'Chocolate Cake' and watch the joyful results for yourself.
Anyway, to celebrate National Poetry Day I thought I would pick one of my favourite anthologies to share with you. The glorious 'I am the Seed That Grew the Tree' is an anthology for children (but equally brilliant for adults) with a different nature poem for each day of the year. Wide ranging and beautifully illustrated, this surely deserves a place on any school/library/bedroom bookshelf.
I'll leave you with the gorgeously Autumnal entry for October 1st... enjoy.
The Leaves Are Green
The leaves are green
The nuts are brown,
They hang so high
They will not come down.
Leave them alone
Till frosty weather,
Then they will all
Come down together.
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