Poems for Older Children
By
Jacque Healy
From
Sonnet Science
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A sonnet is observant, just like you—
A verdant brook of words running along,
A bubbling wonder tremulous with tune,
A rushing rhapsody—here, there, then gone.
A sonnet is inquisitive like you,
An earnest mist of questions yearning on—
A gleaming thinker stretching after truth,
Adept explorer of phenomenon.
A sonnet is experimental too,
Adventurous, meandering, headstrong!
A pioneering stream that’s ever new—
A slender, sparkling poem alive with song.
Like you, it longs to grasp a mystery—
A sonnet’s you, and science, poetry.
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A dandelion is a fresh ambition—
A plucky, optimistic mini-sun
A platter of florets full of nutrition
A welcome feast for Spring’s first-waking ones.
In shine the lion flatters new May green
In rain it tucks its mane into a bud
In time it’s pollinated and it schemes
(In final furl, its dreaming roots in mud)
To flourish once again, as petals fizz
To paper-nothings, topping bracts that brim
To bursting with a seedy swell that lives
To flower, float—a dome of white, a whim,
Feather-light, young-spirited, a swish
Of fading shimmer, whispering a wish.
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A mountain is a massive story book,
An ancient tale of geologic strife.
So if by chance you see one, take a look
And learn about the history of its life.
The layered folds that run along its pages
May mark the place a pair of plates once crashed,
While glassy shards of rock record the ages
When fiery ash and lava boiled and splashed!
The canyon’s V or U shape lets us know
Where rivers flowed or glaciers slowly trod,
While whittled peaks tell where the winds still blow
And broken stones make known where ice once thawed.
So nature writes her deeds for us to see
Just how a mighty mountain comes to be.
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From
Neighborhood, Enchanted
A Botanical & Calendrical Renga
Set in Pennsylvania
Welcome Autumn - King of Golden Tones!
Yellow - Copper - Amber - Brown and Bronze!
September -
You know it’s here
When ferns curl into scrolls.
September sums up Summer - Summer sets
As Snakeroot starts to Bloom - its White Florets
Decorate the ground -
Like Anklet-Clouds – surrounded
By Bees –
Anemones drape - swan-like - off the gate
As Trees begin to blush – but hesitate
To drop their Maple -
Tulip - Pin-Oak leaves –
The Shapes
Of Dreams they Dreamt when All the World was Green –
“These Dreams you crush to Dust will turn to Spring” –
So whispers the vine -
Clematis Turniflora –
Bower of Stars!
Summer saved - Her Fragrance - for September
Because Her Petal-Breath helps us remember -
That Sun and Song and Green
Will come again –
This is Resurrection.
October in Narberth –
Orange is everywhere
And crackling.
Fat and Flaming Rose Hips make fine food
For Hungry Fauna to consume - pale blooms
Open up like cups - and drop
Petal - Petal - Petal
To the ground –
And Silver Lamb’s Ear feels like Cashmere -
And Calamint’s Choir of Bells appear
To ring in breezes –
Making little lavender
Sounds
That only White-Winged Butterflies
Or Bees or Velvet Hummingbirds could prize
And all these know
It’s almost time
to fade –
Let’s walk around the neighborhood to see
What’s happening to every bush and tree.
Our discovery?
A Glorious Gingko!
A Dinosaur-Old species –
Gingko Leaves look just like Fairy Fans -
Golden Objects made for Dainty Hands!
October Color –
How Treetops say
Farewell to Summer.
Through Autumn
We walk on,
Observing November.
So many flowers gone – but in the bareness –
Garden Roses rise through Black-eyed Susans –
Whose blackened stems –
dried-out wands
with cone-shaped paper heads –
Make cunning winter homes for lady bugs
Or forming moths or food for mourning doves –
They’re insect inns
Softly blowing in the wind –
Tail-ends of fall –
So long to the softest - greenest things!
Instead - we’ll gather pokey sweetgum seeds!
Or hoard warm-hued
Horse chestnuts –
Smooth surprises wrapped in spikes –
Find delight in acorns and brown boughs
Of bur oak leaves – Arrange Them into Crowns!
O Noble November –
Out of almost nothing –
Suddenly – Splendor!
Welcome Winter –
Can any other season
Whisper?
December –
Just say the word
And you’ll smell Fir Trees –
Glide down an icy street and you will see
Bowing boughs of Gorgeous Coralberry –
King-Bright Violet Hues –
Twigs that drip
with Jewels –
Jewels that feed the Birds and Spotted Deer –
A Coralberry Bush cries – Linger Here! –
But oh!
Yellow Blossoms on snow!
Witch-hazel – hello!
Another bush in bloom in winter hush –
It comforts us – like Sunshine – shines for us –
A shrub whose bark
Can heal our wounds –
Magic in Bleak Winter –
But Ink-like Branches pressed against a sky
Of Amethyst-Rose Dusk – plus the Eyes –
Of Stars – the Seal
Of a Silver Moon –
These also make us swoon.