A world opens up to us, and we ride along for the journey. Poems shift points of view. If we always see things one way, suddenly a poem may turn another light on, shift the focus to see another facet of an issue or subject. Poems braid curricular areas. They break through boundaries and separations, weaving things back together, fractions to feelings, historical events to this moment, tears to joy.
Poems contain values and voice, time and place, past and present.
They carry within their spare space the currents of rivers, the horizon, and the scent of loamy soil. Heart, be still, and it will. Or, over time, build a file of poems that you like. Let them be a ready resource to pull out when young minds have slipped off elsewhere. A poem at the right moment can let in a breeze, warm and balmy, evoking memory and sensations, or chilly, cold, and invigorating, leading to spirited discussions.