Poetry is like a curvy slide in a playground--an odd object, available to the public--and, as I keep explaining to my local police force, everyone should be able to use it, not just those of a certain age.
In general I am suspicious of anything written specifically for children. It is, of course, acceptable to write something to a specific child--"Dear Elizabeth, I have reason to believe this cake is poison, so please leave it alone and I'll take care of it later"--but things written by someone who is thinking only of children far too often have an unfortunate tone. If you have ever seen an adult hunch over and begin talking to a child in the high-pitched voice of an irritating simpleton, then you know the tone I mean. It is a tone that takes the fun out of everything, even everything fun.
--
Poem
I'm in the house.
It's nice out: warm
sun on cold snow.
First day of spring
or last of winter.
My legs run down
the stairs and out
the door, my top
half here typing
--Ron Padgett
More: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/article/246328
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