Don't Let Poetry Die

The appreciation of poetry is on the endangered species list in the United States. Can you name America's Poet Laureate? No Web searching allowed. Ask around. The answer, which you might have a tough time finding in the real world, is Kay Ryan.

Fading Interest
What allowed poetry to fall out of favor in America? Part of the blame falls on grade-school English classes, where simple appreciation of poetry is often jettisoned in favor of rigorous analysis. Our move from letter-writing to e-mail to text has also taken its toll, although poetry and texting both share a need for economy of words.

It would be sad, indeed, to live in a world without poetry. Most people have a favorite poem or two, or a line from a poet that they often quote. Greeting cards remain filled with the works of hired poets and bookstore shelves teem with dusty volumes of poetry collections. The secret to keeping poetry alive is to help kids understand its purpose and beauty.

Helping Kids Appreciate Poetry

• Look for poetic children's books. The Dr. Seuss books are filled with well-written poetry that appeals to children. This is a great way to introduce kids to the idea of narrative poetry. Many books for younger children are also written in a poetic style.
• Read poetry for fun. Name a subject, and someone has written a poem about it. Look for poems about things that interest your kids and read them together. Don't worry about analyzing the work or trying to understand every detail; explain to your kids that figuring out the secret meaning of poems is part of their charm.
• Share your favorite poems. Everyone has a poem or two that they remember fondly from school. Find a copy and read it to your children. Tell them why you like the poem and how it makes you feel. Look for other poems by the same author together with your children to see if there are any others you like. Enlist the help of your local librarian or a bookstore to find poems with similar themes and styles.
• Point out examples of poetry in everyday life. Funny haikus can be found on many Web sites, but be sure to check them for age appropriateness. Songwriting is a form of poetry, as is rap music, which is freestyle poetry set to a beat. Advertisers often use poetry to convey a message. Love poetry can be found on greeting cards.
• Encourage kids to write poetry. All too often, kids lose their desire to write because they associate it with schoolwork. Show your kids that writing poetry can be a good way to deal with feelings or to mark a special occasion. Sit down and write poetry with your kids, either about your home, family members or a pet.

Children value time with their parents more than anything else. When you spend time reading or writing poetry with your kids, you create a positive association that can lead to a lifetime of poetry appreciation.