You know thatI’m a huge advocate for poetry. Somany things in life get “lost” along the way, but when you give children a poemit’s theirs for a lifetime.
When I was alittle girl 60 years ago we didn’t have televisions, computers, or videos. We also didn’t have very many books oraccess to a library. However, thebooks that we did have were treasured and the stories were read over and overagain. One of my favorite poemswas “The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson. When our grandson K.J. was visiting last week I got out myraggedy old book and read the poem to him. It was “magic”! I was in my mother’s arms once again and she was reading to me. What a joy to share that bridge in timewith him!
When you have afew extra minutes today, invite your children to close their eyes as you sharethis poem:
The Swing
By Robert LouisStevenson
How do you liketo go up in a swing,
Upin the air so blue?
Oh, I do thinkit the pleasantest thing
Evera child can do!
Up in the airand over the wall,
TillI can see so wide,
Rivers and treesand cattle and all
Overthe countryside—
Till I look downon the garden green,
Downon the roof so brown—
Up in the air Igo flying again,
Upin the air and down!
Note: You could ask children to draw picturesof what they “see” in their brains, or just let it be!
