April 21 was “National Poem in Your Pocket Day” and Mt. Horeb students had poems at the ready (in an adhesive plastic pocket, if not their own) to share with schoolmates. Encouraged nationally by the American Academy of Poets and organized at Mt. Horeb School by librarian Chris Burkhardt, the idea behind “Poem in Your Pocket Day” is to inspire children and adults alike to “channel their inner bard,” says poet.org.
Students were encouraged to choose a poem that inspires them (or just one that they like), carry it around in their pocket, and read it to friends, teachers and family. Older grades met with younger “buddies” to explore and share this aesthetic and rhythmic form of literature. “When I asked a kindergartner what a poem was, she said ‘it’s kind of like a song, but it’s really, really slow,” said Burkhardt.
Principal Scott Cook had his own pocket poem handy, given to him by several students and appropriately entitled “Mr. Cook.” Cook, an accomplished guitarist and songwriter who sings in a band in his off time, also shared with fourth and fifth graders his childhood frustrations with writing poetry, which changed when he discovered music. Poetry and song lyrics go hand-in-hand, he told the gathering. “Because I loved music and I wanted to write songs, I had to figure out how to write poetry.” Oh, and should you be wondering about that poem in Mr. Cook’s pocket, it is the work of poet Douglas Florian and the first stanza reads: “Mr. Cook’s in love with books. He piles them wall-to-wall. On breezy days, they gently sway, and with a sneeze they fall.” Nearby, at Angelo L. Tomaso School, librarian Susan Jackson and her second graders have been working with poetry as well, including haiku and acrostic poems (where certain letters in a line spell a word or phrase).
“I didn’t do “Poem in Your Pocket” as such,” Jackson says. But had she, Jackson says she would have chosen the following fun verse by Ogden Nash for her pocket poem.
Behold the hippopotamus We laugh at how he looks to us And yet, in moments dank and grim I wonder how we look to him. Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus We really look all right to us As you no doubt delight the eye Of other hippopotami!
(above) Mt. Horeb Principal Scott Cook shows off his pocket poem, appropriately entitled “Mr. Cook.”
(above) Selita Ikejibeh displays her pocket poem on April 21, National Poem in Your Pocket Day.
(above) Principal Scott Cook demonstrates the connection between poetry and songwriting.
(above) Kindergartner Aydin Cakirdas (L) shares his poem with fourth grade “buddies” Robert Battiste (middle) and Alexander Skiadas ® on National Poem in Your Pocket Day.
