Poetic Essences

The kids and I have been reading a book of poetry by Valerie Worth called all the small poems and fourteen more. Several times while reading the book we would say, "oh that poem really fits (insert person's name)." We decided to go back through the book and find a poem for each one of them that aptly describes the essence of who they are right now. Here are the selections:

For "heady" Mr. Edwards:
book

Such a
Bountiful
Box of
Tricks:
Packed
With the
Five senses,
The seven
Seas, the
Earth's
Four winds
And corners,
All fitted
Exactly in.


For "strong and ever striving" Mr. Garvey:
acorn

An acorn
Fits perfectly
Into its shingled
Cup, with a stick
Attached
At the top,

Its polished
Nut curves
In the shape
Of a drop, drawn
Down to a thorn
At the tip,

And its heart
Holds folded
Thick white fat
From which
A marvelous
Tree grows up:

I think no better
Invention or
Mechanical trick
Could ever
Be bought
In a shop.


For "the collector" Mr. Laura
pocket

These things
Might go
Into the pocket:
Sea-stones,
A bright
Beetle,
Knitted circles
Of Queen Anne's
Lace;

These things
Come out
Of the pocket:
Sand, splinters,
Scraps
Of paper creased
And soft
As an old
Face.

For "Live in the Moment" Mary:
amoeba

Never wondering
What shape to take,
But with a
Slow shrug
Making a start
In any direction,
And then following,
Flowing wholeheartedly
Into the fluid
Mold of the moment

And last but not least, for "boisterous" Miss Almanzo:
fireworks

First
A far thud,
Then the rocket
Climbs the air,
A dull red flare,
To hang a moment,
Invisible, before
Its shut black shell cracks
And claps against the ears,
Breaks and billows into bloom,
Spilling down clear green sparks, gold spears,
Silent sliding silver waterfalls and stars.