Poetry for Growing: Kindergarten through "Kollege"
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Discovering Myself
These are my fingers
And these are my toes
These are my eyes
And this is my nose...
Vitamin for Thumbalina
Vitamin C:
Apples and oranges are delicious.
Strawberries are good as can be.
Cantaloupe and grapefruit are nutritious.
And they all give you Vitamin C...
An Easter Dream
I dreamt I saw a garden;
I saw my Savior there.
His brow was wet with beads of sweat,
His heart was heavy with regret,
His eyes were sorrowful, and yet,
He placed His hand on me.
The Highway of Life
I’ve thought of the house by the side of the road
Where the friend of mankind abides.
I’ve thought of one who’d help carry the load
While walking at the traveler''s side.
And I’ve many times wondered which one I’d rather be,
The one who abides, or aids
The traveler on the highway of life;
But decision would always evade...
Danny The Christmas Donkey
To
Upon a little donkey, who walked with so much care.
Perchance he knew, this donkey, that he must gentle be
And every step he took that day was measured carefully.
For on his back was Mary, the virgin maiden mild
And just beneath her heart she bore the Little Holy Child.
Artistorama
Narrator:
If I were an artist, and could paint anything
I’d paint all the loveliest wonders of spring,
Green trees, and flowers, and birds on the wing;
Then I’d paint a mockingbird and dream it could sing;
Its throat I’d paint golden, its voice to make sweet,
Then add a bit of silver, my painting to complete;
I’d listen for its golden song all the long day through
And when a melody I hear, I’d know that dreams come true....
Pokey The Playful Whale
Pokey, the whale, lived way out at sea
Where he frolicked and played with his whale family.
There was Mama whale, Papa whale and baby whales, three...
Okey Whale, Dokey Whale, and playful whale, Pokey.
"Keep up with us, Pokey," His mama would say...
But Pokey the whale always wanted to play.
"You’ll get lost if you’re slow," Papa Whale said to Pokey. "Can’tcha swim faster, Pokey?" said Okey and Dokey...
"Rapping" About
I’ve just had a dream that would blow your mind.
All the words disappeared...not a word could I find.
I was trying to buy food in the grocery store,
Nothing on the shelves had a name anymore.
Every can, every bottle, every wrapper was plain;
Trying to find what you wanted could drive you insane...
Refrain
A day without words would be weird indeed
I’m glad we have words! I’m glad I can read!
Panorama of Science
Oh wondrous Earth You did for us
So many mysteries hold.
And now before our very eyes,
These mysteries unfold
Oh Mother Earth, dear Mother Earth
God shed his grace on thee.
And may we more through science learn
Of earth and sky and sea...
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Parents looking for a poetry book...
the whole family can enjoy?
Teachers looking for poems to make learning fun...
for every pupil, girl or boy?
Students six, sixteen, twenty or seventy-six...
seeking "cool" things to learn, or to do?
Poetry For Growing has seven sections...Each informative and unique, you''ll find
Poems by the current author... And by other poets, skillfully combined.
You''ll find stories, skits musical plays in rhyme...philosophical verse, tributes, even a rap
To which children, preteens, adolescents... and adults, young or old can adapt.
A Seven Section Overview
•"Poetry for Growing in Self Knowledge,"
Can help to increase self esteem.
• "Poetry For Growing in Spiritual Awareness,"
Can help to explore what faith really means.
• "Poetry For Growing Toward a Philosophy of Life,"
Provides opportunities to exercise the mind.
• "Poetry for Growing in Literature, Language & the Creative Arts,"
Reveals some of the beauty, which in life, one can find.
• "Poetry For Growing in Scientific Knowledge," presents
A "Panorama of Science," a delightful musical play.
• "Poetry for Growing in Social and Civic Awareness."
Some anomalies of American life, help to convey.
• "Poetry for Growing in Devotion To Family and Friends."
Shows that these dear ones are life''''''''s treasures, indeed.
Poetry For Growing...Kindergarten through Kollege
Is a book you''ll want to own and to read!
Students of all ages can enjoy reading poems to each other or having plays at home with the whole family participating. Instant dramatizations in the classroom, in Bible school, or at camp are possible using this book. Simply reading poems aloud in various settings can make poetry come alive for children, as well as for adolescents and adults.
About the Author
Dr. LaVerne Byrd Smith, author, creator of Poetry For Growing...Kindergarten through "Kollege" is a retired educator, former newspaper columnist, and church historian, who has pursued poetry as a hobby for more than six decades.
Educator. Smith's career as an educator spanned 42 years from 1948 to 1990 and included positions as teacher of students from kindergarten through college and graduate school. During 14 of these 42 years, she served as a Supervisor of Reading and Language Arts for the State Department of Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Many forms of poetic expression in this book were written for students or for use by teachers at all levels of education.
Writer. Her hobby and adjunct career as a newspaper columnist and freelance writer have included columns in the Richmond Afro American and Norfolk Journal and Guide newspapers; freelance articles in Ebony and Sepia magazines; articles in The Richmond Free Press, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Good News Herald newspapers; as well as, other educational, church and community publications.
Historian. As church historian (a volunteer service during the years 1991-2002), she served as compiling author for Traveling On, a history in two volumes of The First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Virginia. Volume I is Church and community history from 1821-1871 and Volume II is church and community history from 1865-1998. This church, formerly known as The African Church of Manchester, Virginia is currently the oldest church in Richmond, Virginia. Several of Smith's poems are included in Volume II of the church history book.
Poet. Smith's first poem was published in The Pittsburgh Courier, when at the age of 10, she won a poetry contest sponsored by that newspaper. During the ensuing half century plus, her poems have appeared in school, college and professional publications, as well as, newspapers and books. Several of her poems are included in The American Poetry Anthology (1987) and in Best New Poets of 1987, an anthology published by The American Poetry Association in 1988. Some of her other poems, or stories in rhyme for children have previously been published in Popcorn magazine (1980), Fame magazine (1959), The University of Maryland Diamondback (1982), Richmond Afro American newspaper (1983). The Blessed Gentle Beast, a children's Christmas story in rhyme, published by the Northlight Publishing Company, is the first separate book featuring one of Smith's many poems.
Several poems, written during the past six decades by this Septuagenarian are included in the current publication Poetry For Growing...Kindergarten through "Kollege." These poems range from the entertaining and didactic, to the philosophical, the religious and social commentary. Poems by other poets (including her mother), whom Smith feels inspired her and helped her in growing, are interspersed with her original poems throughout the book.