Poetry Speaks

Three years ago I discovered and bought the book, Poetry Speaks To Children, for my then two-year-old son. Absolutely, I thought, as I held it close to my chest. Frost, Sandburg, Hughes, Dickinson, Nash. This is what I want for my children. Besides the the book was accompanied by a CD which contained many of the poets reading their work. After all, who wouldn't want to hear J.R.R. Tolkein read "Frodo's Song

in Bree?" Every Wednesday my friend Molly and her friend Kris post poetry on their blogs. And so today, I offer three different pieces from this lovely book. I love each one, and the third poem makes me cry every single time I hear or read it.

Okay, Brown Girl, Okay

James Berry

For Josie (9 years old, who wrote to me saying "boys called me names

because of my color. I felt very upset...My brother and sister are English.

I wish I was, then I won't be picked on...How do you like being brown?"

Josie, Josie, I am okay

being brown. I remember

every day dusk and dawn get born

from the loving of night and light

who work together, like married.

And they would like to say to you:

Be at school on and on, brown Josie

like thousands and thousands and thousands

of children, who are brown and white

and black and pale-lemon color.

All the time, brown girl Josie is okay.

Josie, Josie, I am okay

being brown. I remember

every minute sun in the sky

and ground of the earth work together

like married.

And they would like to say to you:

Ride on up a going escalator

like thousands and thousands and thousands

of people, who are brown and white

and black and pale-lemon color.

All the time, brown girl Josie is okay.

Josie, Josie, I am okay

being brown. I remember

all the time bright-sky and brown-earth

work together, like married

making forests and food and flowers and rain.

And they would like to say to you:

Grow and grow brightly, brown girl.

Write and read and play and work.

Ride bus or train or boat or airplane

like thousands and thousands and thousands

of people, who are brown and white

and black and pale-lemon color.

All the time, brown girl Josie is okay.

A Poem

for Jesse

Sonia Sanchez

your face like

summer lightning

gets caught in my voice

and i draw you up from

deep rivers

taste your face of a

thousand names

see you smile

a new season

hear your voice

a wild sea pausing in the wind.

to P.J.

(2 yrs old who sed write a poem for me in Portland, Oregon)

if I cud ever write a

poem as beautiful as u

little 2/yr/old/brotha,

i wud laugh, jump, leap

up and touch the stars

cuz u be the poem i try for

each time i pick up a pen and paper.

u and Morani and Mungu

be our blue/blk/stars that

will shine on our lives and

makes us finally BE.

if i cud ever write a poem as beautiful

as u, little 2/yr/old/brotha,

poetry wud go out of bizness.