Show JOY OF POETRY IN YOUNG MIND Writer W Urges Cultivation of Childs Child's Taste Poetry like spinach has hns been called calle n a cultivated taste More tore than one ono harassed mother has lias given up the struggle to make male Junior or Jane acquire a liking for either While the defense nse of spinach rests with somebody somebody somebody some some- body else In The Parents' Parents Magazine Helen Van Yan Pelt Wilson WIlBon takes es up the case for poetry You Ton cant can't expect a child who has never seen a bu budding willow or an alder by the river er Miss Daffy Daffy- down dilly or a n racing cloud to be beer bevery bevery er very much Interested In poems about them Yet by stimulating the senses by a n constant appeal to sight smell sound touch and association I have developed love loe of ot poetry In my little daughter not yet et five years ears of ot age Now a poem springs up to accompany accompany pany every act of ot her da day To be bo sure dally daily walks In the country give ghe the time Imaginative background background back back- ground for the nature poetry In which this wise mother coaches her herI I small child Yet In the city there are parks with trees flowing rivers nn and florists florists' windows full of bright beau beau- ty In the time cIt city too there are museums mu mu- museums where birds s and animals are even more easily seen than In the country Pictures well colored ad add acid to natures nature's lore Also there Is poetry poetry poetry po po- po- po etry In gigantic machines and the motion of city life Ufe Why does It matter so much whether children love lovo poetry 7 asks Mrs Irs Wilson and promptly answers her own question To uTo me poetry Isan is isan isan an eternal glory an and shining light I shall shaU feel a lamentable failure If I cant can't pass this Joy along to my child Poetry Is a refuge In time of material materi materI- al losses agony of grief thwarted ambitions there Is great grent comfort In rhythmic beauty poured over oer the troubled trouble soul With convictions con such as these no wonder Mrs Wilson feels that poetry is the Inalienable right of every child chilli From knowledge born of her own experience she declares there Is spiritual kinship between poet and youngster Both are Imaginative curious full of wonder and Idealism Both love e words for their own sake When It comes to selecting poetry for tor children much of the choice should be left lect to the child The acid neld test Is it the childs child's own liking claims Mrs Wilson Besides Besides Be si sides es this no laboratory proof no age or classroom list no sho l s' s nor can stand I like this this' and md Dont lets let's rea read that are th the only true In conclusion con can elusion sh she a adds ds a word against keeping poetry just within the childs child's scope You will an find Junior and Jane wil edit enjoy enjo much they cant can't entirely understand un n- n particularly If the rhythm Is strong Its It's goo good for a child to toS S stand on tiptoe now an and then |