Whether funny or serious, poetry is for everyone

“The wind is blowing pretty strong

“It’s so cold I could freeze to death.”

“The wind is blowing pretty strong

“Be careful – there’s a swarm of bees!”

“The wind is blowing pretty strong

“I would really like a piece of cheese.”

“The wind is blowing pretty strong

“I’m going back into the house.”

From that one opening line, we had the beginning of a winter poem, a spring garden poem, a picnic poem (or a poem written by a mouse), and a short, crucial poem. All from children who most likely thought poetry wasn’t for them.

With this one effort they (like me) learned this poetry Is for her.

Because poetry is there all.

By the way, here’s how I finished the poem. You can read it and 99 others in “Oops!”

The wind is blowing pretty strong

The wind blows on my knees.

The wind blows its spring dance.

It tells me I forgot my pants.

Alan Katz focuses on writing humor for children. His 50 books include picture books, song parody books, poetry books, middle grade chapter books, early readers, even some board books and game/quiz sets. He and his wonderful wife Rose are now working on a book of poetry together – their first collaboration in 34 years of marriage, if you don’t count their four amazing children (one of whom is a prolific political speechwriter).