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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.

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