Poetry Anthology

By: Katie Mix

October 7, 2014
ENGL414 Dr. Burke








Table of Contents:

Introduction4-5
Down by the Riverside by Dave Etter.6-7
Steerage by David Citino..8
Bananas and Grapefruit by Roy Lichtenstein, Deborah Pope.9
A Circle of Sun by Rebecca Kai Dotlich..10
Your Birthday Cake by Rosemary Wells..10
Cat Kisses by Bobbi Katz..11
Mum is Having a Baby by Colin McNaughton11
Grandpa by Berlie Doherty...11
Recipe for Green by Jane Yolen.12
Beach Time by Marilyn Singer..13
Dream Maker by Jane Yolen13
What are Little Girls? by Adrian Henri.14-15
My Life by Julie OCallaghan...15-16
74
th
Street by Myra Cohn Livingston.16
Girls in a Factory by Denis Glover..17
The Wind by James Reeves17
Ms. Whatchamacallit Thingamajig by Miriam Chaikin..18
Caf by Katie Mix19
Crumbling by Katie Mix.20
Under the Constellations by Katie Mix20
Bibliography21



INTRODUCTION

I think its important to introduce good literature to children at a young age. Literature can help
to expand their knowledge of the vast world around them and provide a foundation for
advanced future language skills. A great way to introduce literature to children is through
poems. Starting at a young age, we read children, even babies easy poetry so its enjoyable to
them. This educational approach instills the idea that reading, specifically reading poems, is fun.
So, what makes a good poem?
In my opinion, one of the first characteristics that makes up a good poem is good rhyme
scheme. When reading to children, I think it is important to read poems that have an easy and
almost lyrical rhyme scheme. I think making a poem rhyme is very important for the
introduction of poems. Now there are a few exceptions to this rule, where childrens poems do
not rhyme, but for a young audience I think rhyming is a good quality to have. This makes a
poem pleasurable because having an end rhyme is something we expect.
A second characteristic of a good poem is that the subject is relatable. If a child is reading a
poem about a subject they cannot relate to or is beyond their intellect, they will most likely
become disengaged. Reading Shakespeares Juliets Soliloquoy will most likely not interest
young readers. However, reading a poem about animals on a farm and seeing the illustrations,
is perhaps something they can relate to more. Reading about a subject in which children are
familiar, will make a poem more meaningful and keep them engaged.
Following an easy rhyme scheme and pertaining to a relatable topic are both of great
importance for childrens poems. Furthermore, I think that these poems should be uplifting.
There is much time later in life to read dark, depressing poems. As a child, I think poems should
create a fun, uplifting atmosphere. In my first poem, Down by the Riverside, it creates a
peaceful presence about it and tells a pleasing story. Having a positive message will create a
positive experience for the child, so he/she will want to continue reading.
Having age appropriate poems is essential as well, in my opinion. As a very young child (baby
and toddler stage), I think very simple poems with subjects such as animals, colors or numbers
are appropriate. Then, as children enter school, I think poems should be a little more complex,
but not overly so. Making sure poems are age appropriate and even deal with a particular
school subject is a good quality to have within a poem.
A fifth quality a poem should have is that it should stir up some sort of emotions within the
reader. Perhaps this comes later in school, but reading poetry should have an effect on the
reader, preferably positive when dealing with young children. I think poetry should contain
emotion and evoke feelings within the readers. Showing expression through writing, reading
and language is one of the best ways to captivate audience and doing this at a young age will
only encourage advanced literature skills.
My final thought on creating a good childrens poem is that it should leave the child with a
great experience, wanting more. I think a childs poem ought to create a positive experience for
the reader so that they will find reading enjoyable. Furthermore, it should leave the child
wanting to read more. This will help engage the child in reading and even increase literacy skills.
Having an easy-to-follow rhyme scheme, relatable topic, positive message, being age
appropriate and leaving the reader with wanting more are all of great importance in creating a
good quality poem.


Poems
Down by the Riverside by Dave Etter


Uncle Roy

has done it

again. He

has saided our

bright orange kite

with the long

and fancy

tail into

the summer

sky. He will

soon make it

fly higher

and higher.

My sister

Lucinda

prances on

spongy grass.

Our yellow

dog Barney

barks and barks

his doggie

approval.

Mom and Dad

have seen lots

of orange kites

dance in a

warm breeze. Mom

gulps a cold

drink while Dad

is busy

at the grill

cooking meat.

Both of them

leave us to

our young joy

down by the

riverside.


Steerage by David Citino

A photograph can show us,
In color or in black and white,
Whats wrong, whats right.

Look with me inside this ship.
We see, through the lens, a crowd
Of families. It all looks loud,

Though a photograph makes
Noise only in our heads. Lives
Are changing. Husbands, wives
And babies are sailing toward us,
Who inhabit the future they desire,
Free from povertys dirty fire.

They sail in steerage, a mode
Of going from dark to days
Of light, to develop all the ways

Of being themselves. The mast,
They hope, will grow into a leafy tree
And whisper, Now youre free.









Bananas and Grapefruit by Roy Lichtenstein and Deborah Pope
plump slump
slug plug
broke yolk
(hello
yellow!)
sealed in
unpeeled skin
gold fold
fruit suit
sluice of juices
squeezy teases
swelling lemon
jujubeezes
tipped ship
nape shape
goo canoe
peel deal
rind grind
rough slough
slick lick
slow flow
squirt shirt
taste
haste
gulppulp
sweet part
eat
art






A Circle of Sun
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich


I'm dancing.
I'm leaping.
I'm skipping about.
I gallop.
I grin.
I giggle.
I shout.
I'm Earth's many colors.
I'm morning and night.
I'm honey on toast.
I'm funny.
I'm bright.
I'm swinging.
I'm singing.
I wiggle.
I run.
I'm a piece of the sky
in a circle of sun.

Your Birthday Cake - by Rosemary Wells
Your birthday cake is made of mud
Because I cannot cook.
I cannot read a recipe or follow in a book.
I'm not allowed to use the stove
To simmer, roast or bake.
I have no money of my own to buy a birthday cake.
I'm sure to get in trouble if I mess around with dough.
But I've made your birthday cake of mud
Because I love you so.


Cat Kisses by Bobbi Katz

Sandpaper kisses
on a cheek or a chin-
that is the way
for a day to begin!

Sandpaper kisses-
a cuddle and a purr.
I have an alarm clock
that's covered in fur!

"Mum Is Having a Baby" by Colin McNaughton:

Mum is having a baby!
I'm shocked! I'm all at sea!
What's she want another one for:
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME!?

"Grandpa" by Berlie Doherty:

Grandpa's hands are as rough as
Garden sacks
And as warm as pockets.
His skin is crushed paper round
His eyes
Wrapping up their secrets.



Recipe for Green by Jane Yolen
Take one seed,
Take one plot
Of deep, dark earth.
(But not a lot.)
Dig a bit,
Leave a while.
(More than a minute,
Less than a mile.)
Take some rain,
Take some sun;
Now your work is
Almost done,
Up from under,
Out from in,
Look out,
Sprout,
Time to
Begin.















Beach Time By Marilyn Singer

Were driving to the beach now,
The airs potato chips
so salty on my fingers,
so salty on my lips.



Were running on the beach now,
The waves play with the sea.
I wonder if Im chasing them
or if theyre chasing me.


We have to leave the beach now,
Good-bye sand and sun and foam.
But in my hand I hold a shell
to bring the beach back home.




Dream Maker by Jane Yolen

The shining silver moon
Is a coin hung in the sky
To pay the old Dream Maker
Whenever he goes by.







What Are Little Girls...By Adrian Henri

Im not a
sugar and spice
girl
an all

things

nice
girl
a do

as

told
good

as

gold
pretty frock
never shock
girl

Im
a slugs and snails
girl
a puppy

dogs

tails
girl
a climbing trees
dirty
knees
hole

in

sock
love

to

shock
girl
cricket bats
and big white rats
crested newts
and football boots
thats what
this little girls
...Made of.


My Life by: Julie OCallaghan

Look at it coming
Down the street
Toward us:
It chokes me up
Every time I see it
Walking along
All by itself.
How does it know
For example
Which corner
Is the right one
To turn at?
Who tells it
To keep going
Past the intersection
And take the first left
After the supermarket?
There it goes
Ill follow quietly
And see where
Its off to.

74th Street by Myra Cohn Livingston

Hey, this
little kid gets roller skates.
She puts them on.
She stands up and almost
flops over backwards.
She sticks out a foot like
shes going somewhere and
falls down and
smacks her hand. She
grabs hold of a step to get up and
sticks out the other foot and
slide
s about six inches and
falls and
skins her knee.
And then, you know what?
She brushes off the dirt and the
blood and puts some
spit on it and then
sticks out the other foot.
again



Girls in a Factory by: Denis Glover

Seated in rows at the machines
Their heads are bent; the tacking needle
Stitches along the hours, along the seams.

What thoughts follow the needle
Over the fields of cloth,
Stitching into the seams
Perhaps a scarlet thread of love,
A daisy-chain of dreams?


The Wind by: James Reeves

I can get through a doorway without any key,
And strip the leaves from the great oak tree.
I can drive storm clouds and shake tall towers,
Or steal through a garden and not wake the flowers.

Seas I can move and ships I can sink;
I can carry a house-top or the scent of a pink.

When I am angry I can rave and riot;
And when I am spent, I lie quiet as quiet.



Ms. Whatchamacallit Thingamajig By Miriam Chaikin
Ms. Whatchamacallit Thingamajig
can make herself small or make herself big,
can take any shape, from round as a ball
to sharp as a spear, to wide as a wall.
She makes no sound as she creeps, flies or shakes
(how she moves depends on the shape that she takes).
And though she is soundless, she's always around.
Wherever you are - there she can be found.
What? You've never seen her? That's because she's
invisible by day and disguised as a breeze.
At night, when the lights are out in the house,
she takes on the shape of a shadow or mouse.
Though you've never seen her, she's always close by.
Have you never felt something fly in your eye?
Or noticed the cat stare at someone unseen?
Or found dirt on a shirt that was utterly clean?
Have you ever been pushed and found no one there?
Or dropped a glass you were holding with care?
What of itches, tickles, scratches and those?
Are they all just - accidents - do you suppose?
You have the idea. You're beginning to see.
Yes, those are the doings of Ms. W.T.
She loves a good laugh, and laughs without end to see a look of surprise on the face of a friend.
Caf

Katie Mix

People come and people go,

Morning rush, midday flow.

Buy a little, buy a lot.

Drink it cold, eat it hot.


2 A.M. need a friend.

Come to the caf round the bend.


Come sit and chat with me.

Grab a chair and a cup of tea.

Share me your secrets, tell me what you know,

People come and people go.











Crumbling by Katie Mix

Crumbling beneath out-stretched branches,

I am a withering leaf.

Blowing in the merciless winds of this world,

Then,

I fall to the ground.

I am alone.

Worthless.

Crumbling, withering, dying,

Dead.

Oh, please, breathe life into me once again.



Under the Constellations by Katie Mix

All the worlds a silent whisper as I lay here under the constellations where my thoughts come
alive and dance their way into the crisp, autumn air. Nothing seems alive; just me and my
thoughts that consume me. My thoughts turn into dreams, my dreams to reality. For its here
where I feel most alive. Here, under the constellations.

Bibliography
Greenberg, Jan. Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-century American Art. New York:
Harry N. Abrams, 2001. Print.
Hollyer, Belinda, and Susan Hellard. She's All That!: Poems about Girls. Boston: Kingfisher, 2006.
Print.
Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms.
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2005. Print.
Prelutsky, Jack, ed. New York: Random House, 1983. Print.
Yolen, Jane, Andrew Peters, and Polly Dunbar. Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry.
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2007. Print.