Five Poets You Should Know
In honor of National Poetry Month, we’re getting to know five poets who wrote for children throughout their careers:
Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein is perhaps one of the most well-known poets for children. His book, The Giving Tree, is beloved yet complicated, due to its exploration of complex emotional themes and the unconditional relationship between a boy and his tree. Silverstein wrote many volumes of poetry and stories for children that combined his dark and quirky sense of humor with his boundless creativity. His work often included his own simple and silly illustrations of his characters. Below is an excerpt of “Runny Babbit Returns,” a part of his Runny Babbit two-part series focusing on woodland creatures.
Excerpt from “Runny Babbit Returns”
A spider lives inside my head
Who weaves a strange and wondrous web
Of silken threads and silver strings
To catch all sorts of flying things,
Like crumbs of thought and bits of smiles
And specks of dried-up tears,
And dust of dreams that catch and cling
For years and years and years…
Amanda Gorman
At 28 years old, Amanda Gorman has become one of the most influential young poets of our time. At the age of 16, Gorman became the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and gained national attention when she was selected by President Joe Biden to read her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at his inauguration in 2021. Amanda Gorman is also an outspoken advocate for numerous social issues and became Estee Lauder’s first Global Changemaker. The position allowed her to work with various organizations to promote writing and reading skills for girls and women.
Excerpt from “The Hill We Climb”
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true,
that even as we grieved, we grew,
that even as we hurt, we hoped,
that even as we tired, we tried,
that we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.
Robert Frost
Robert Frost has long been considered one of the most influential poets in American history. Recognized for the straightforwardness of his poems, Frost wrote clearly and in classic metres, resulting in refreshingly sincere and readable work. These qualities of his work made it specifically suited for children, and a collection titled “Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost” was published in 2017 by author Jay Parini. Frost is now considered the unofficial Poet Laureate of the United States. Below is a poem of his titled “The Pasture,” published in 1915.
The Pasture
I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan’t be gone long—You come too.
I’m going out to fetch the little calf
That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I shan’t be gone long—You come too
Myra Cohn Livingston
Known primarily for her poetry written for children, Myra Cohn Livingston wrote extensively in multiple forms, including free verse, cinquain (structured by syllable or word count), haiku (structured by syllable), and limerick (five-line funny poem). Outside of writing poetry, Livingston taught writing at UCLA and helped found the Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People. Her book “Calendar” playfully takes readers through the months of the year:
January shivers,
February shines.
March blows off
the winter ice.
April makes
the mornings nice.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was not only a writer, but a singer, dancer, academic, and activist. She began writing as a child and joined the Harlem Writers Guild in 1959. At the same time, she became a member of the Civil Rights Movement. Angelou is best known for her autobiographical work, yet she also wrote extensive volumes of poetry and spoken-word albums. Additionally, she wrote poems for children, including a book called “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” and inspiring verses such as “Harlem Hopscotch” and “Still I Rise.”
Excerpt from “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”
Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Bad dogs barking loud
Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
They don’t frighten me at all
Dragons breathing flame
On my counterpane
That doesn’t frighten me at all.
