105 Ways to Give a Book

Poem in My Pocket Day

Before I sent the fourth grader to school today, I called her over to select a poem.
“It’s Poem in My Pocket Day, so we have to find a poem for you to carry around,” I said. “We don’t have much time to copy it, so it will have to be short.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you making this up or is this a real day?”
We found a very short poem that we both liked for its Springtime feel. I wrote it out quickly, stuffed it in her back pocket, and sent her on her way. I’ll be curious to find out if she did share it with anyone. From Poetry Speaks to Children, my favorite can’t-recommend-it-enough poetry book, here’s Emanuel di Pasquale’s “The Sun Has a Tail”:
The sun has a tail
that reaches under the earth
and tickles seeds.
That’s what grandmother
once told me.
She says things grow
in laughter.
What am I carrying in my pocket? I was going to go with a favorite, “Our Deepest Fear.” (Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.) But I saw a new poem at Gotta Book and it just feels right for the day. And shorter. So I’m carrying this one, from April Halprin Wayland. (First, read the title of the poem, and the poet’s name. Be clear. Now completely disappear.) April is part of a new blog, TeachingAuthors, as one of six children’s authors who also teach writing. Love the concept and the site looks great. Don’t miss it.

1 comment:

April Halprin Wayland said...

I'm honored you like my poem--thank you! Kisses to you on this last week of Poetry Month!