Valerie Worth

Valerie Worth (b.1933- d.1994) was the author of many poetry books for children. I have always loved the simplicity of Worth's free verse poems.

crows

when the high

snows lie worn

to rags along

the muddy furrows,

and the frozen

sky frays, dropping

gray and sodden

to the ground,

the sleek crows

appear, flying

low across the

threadbare meadow

to jeer at

winter's ruin

with their jubilant

Thaw! Thaw! Thaw!

Accompanying each poem is a pencil sketch by Natalie Babbitt, who is also an amazing author. Babbitt's images are perfect companions to the poems.

Worth's poetry encourages observation. You can see that in the poem back yard.

back yard

Sun in the back yard,

Grows lazy,

Dozing on the porch steps

All morning,

Getting up and nosing

About corners,

Gazing into an empty

Flowerpot,

Later easing over the grass

For a nap,

Unless

Someone hangs out the wash--

Which changes 

Everything to a rush and a clap

Of wet

Cloth, and fresh wind

And sun

Wide awake in the white sheets.

When reading this poem, it reminds me of lazy summer days; of gazing out and marking the time of day by where the sun is as it crosses the porch. I can even smell the freshness of the laundry after being hung outside all day, drying in the gentle breeze and warmed by the sunshine.

Check out all the small poems and fourteen more by Valerie Worth and share them with your children.