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Child Verse
Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein
Challenge: Child Verse, Dr. Seuss, and Shel Silverstein Remembered
Well, did our Martha ever grow up? The jury is out. She seems be right inside the minds of the wee ones. She can tell you what you can expect a three year old to understand, what scares a four year old, and mostly, how kindness and sensitivity to a small child will bring out her best.
A Four Year Old Plays Soccer
We play on a soccer team,
our shirts are red and blue.
We call the team the Flyers
and this is what we do.
The whistle blows and we all run
and parents start to call
"Defense, play your position"
but we just chase the ball.
We kick it and we chase it,
we kick each other too
and at the end, when asked the score
We haven't got a clue.
When you are only four years old
You'd rather climb a tree
but parents think someday they'll make
a Soccer star of me !
by Martha Long
Coloring Books
I can really color good
and stay inside the lines.
But somehow when I finish
I Idon't feel like it's mine.
A grown up drew the pictures
and I filled them in just fine,
But I'd rather have a blank page
and make my own designs.
by Martha Long
What is Smart?
Grown ups think a test
can measure which kid's best.
And those who read and spell
will turn out very well,
and get to go to college
and get some extra knowledge.
But I know how to climb
and how to dance and rhyme
and fix a skinned up knee
and plant a seedling tree.
But that's not on the test
So I'm not smart, I guess.
by Martha Long
Our Martha, like Peter Pan, is “childlike” but never, ever “childish.” At day's end, she can be heard in deep conversation with Molly, discussing philosophical schools of the East, the reason for existence, and as the evening wears on, even the finer distinctions between
Venus and Mars.
Across the table the menfolk decide the larger questions: Who will win Sunday's game? Who should win the upcoming elections? Or who is the best-looking actress in Hollywood? But I digress. Here she sits today in the Wee One's Room, poised upon a teeny tiny chair with a gaggle of enthralled small fry in a circle about her. She is reading child's verse from Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and other children's poets who she feels provide an excellent grounding in early childhood education. Being read to, of course, makes readers, and sooner than you think, they will be working their way through C.S. Lewis, J.R. Tolkien, and the Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant, in the original German, of course. Have a cup of green tea and sit a while to recapture your own childhood. Watch their wide-open eyes as they listen to the child verse and silly poetry and clap in rhythm to the meter of the child verse put to music. Reading a child funny poetry is never a waste of time for there may come a day when they will perhaps engage in writing poetry, or reading child verse to their own small fry. However, since Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein have left us bereft of their presence not too long ago, and their poetry accordingly still under copyright, we shall instead share with you Martha's original child verse, which is also excellent, and more often than not, intended for the reflection of young parents. THANKSGIVING AT MY SCHOOL
“Cut out some feathers and color them red
Glue to a band to stick on your head.
Then paint your face scary and fringe an old sack
And draw bows and arrows on front and on back.”
“Now we all look like Indians,” she said to the class.
Is this Halloween? I thought it had passed.
And who are these Indians? Where are they today?
Did somebody scare them and chase them away?
Do they wear paper bags and sleep in a tent?
What happened to them and where have they went?
She talks about sharing and Pilgrims and corn.
She says this is how our great country was born.
I really don't get it— I'm lost in the middle
It must have been back when my mommy was little.
CHILD VERSE: THE CALENDAR
Our classroom has a calendar
And teachers says it's Monday.
So when I go back home for lunch it will be…
Maybe Sunday?
I wish we named the days we learn
And call them what they are
Like Paintday, Gymday, Churchday
That makes more sense by far.
Calendar time's important,
My teacher says it's true,
But when you're only four years old
—it seems a waste to you.
A MORNING WITH THREE'S
They ask and get answers
And zip their own pants
And measure and pour
And count and explore.
The write and they draw
And learn Social Law,
Like being a friend
And how to defend.
To take turns and wait—
And put the blocks straight
They read their own names
And make up some games
They set the snack table
And sort things and label
And roll the Play dough
And catch and they throw.
They lace and they string
Do puzzles and sing
And cook and clean up
And paint from a cup,
They laugh and get dirty
And it's only ten thirty!
SNACK
'Let's have a snack' the teacher says
'And sit down at the table'.
Here come the same old crackers
I can tell it by the label…
When I grow up I'll plan a snack
Of popsicles and Trix,
And bubble gum and licorice
And sweet tarts in the mix.
The girls and boys will love it
And they all can eat their fill…
I'll be their favorite teacher
'Til somebody gets ill!
Have you enjoyed listening to topics about Child Verse, Dr. Seuss, and Shel Silverstein? Perhaps you now find yourself wanting more challenging reading? Step right this way to
Cultural Literacy but visit the Child Verse page from time to time for additions.
Please do not forget to attribute to Jeannette Ramirez as author unless otherwise noted. Webmasters, thank you for supporting this project by linking. For the poem count at Here Be Limerick Poems visit our home page.
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