When teaching children to read, it’s good to find ways to make reading as enjoyable as possible, that’s why we created a list of 10 short inspirational poems for children. Just like every painting in 12 Famous Paintings With the Stories Behind Them, each poem has a story behind it as well.
Fortunately, these stories can often be discovered simply by reading the poem. It’s easy to imagine 19th century Christina Rosetti overlooking a scenic view on a windy day, while writing Who Has Seen the Wind. And there’s no doubt modern day Amy Vanderwater was admiring her collection of seashells while writing Shell Teeth.
What better way to enlighten a child than by teaching them a poem. Have no fear, these short poems are a lot meatier than “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue..” But they’re not Shakespeare, either. They’re easy to learn, but most of all, many of them have deeper meanings which teach children life lessons, and inspire even the young at heart. Other poems will simply make them chuckle.
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Some poetry can be a drag, even for adults, but when you read a poem that really sticks, it can be a satisfying feeling, much like reading a book that you never want to end. One surefire way to enjoy these is to read them aloud to a child. We all know reading poems in our heads isn’t nearly as fun.
So, child or adult, we hope you enjoy these 10 short inspirational poems for children, and gain a little from them, too.
10. Morning Is a Little Child, Joan Walsh Anglund
“Morning is a little child, waking from the dawn,
Noontime is a yellow cat, licking yellow cream,
Afternoon’s a bumblebee, on a honey quest,
Evening is a soft grey dove, winging home to nest.”
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9. How Did It Get So Late So Soon, Dr. Seuss
“How did it get so late so soon?
Its night before its afternoon.
December is here before its June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?”
8. Young Lady of Niger, Anonymous
“There was a young lady of Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a Tiger;
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside,
And the smile on the face of the Tiger.”
7. Magic, Shel Silverstein
“Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself.”
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6. Hope Is the Thing with Feathers, Emily Dickinson
““Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all”
Even a child can grasp this little piece of hope written by Emily Dickinson in 10 short inspirational poems for children.
5. Who Has Seen the Wind, Christina Rosetti
We’re halfway through our list of short inspirational poems for children, and now, let’s see the other half.
“Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling, the wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.”
4. Anything Can Be, Shel Silverstein
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts.
Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me…
Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
3. Open a Book, Jane Baskwill
“Open a book, and you will find
People and places of every kind;
Open a book, and you can be
Anything that you want to be;
Open a book, and you can share
Wondrous worlds you find in there;
Open a book, and I will too,
You read to me, and I’ll read to you.”
2. Shell Teeth, Amy Vanderwater
“The ocean has lost her baby teeth.
They’re shells upon the shore.
And every day she grows new teeth.
Each night she loses more.
She spreads her teeth
Upon the beach. I gather up a pile.
I bring them home, so I can keep
A piece of ocean smile.”
1. Troubles, Dr. Seuss
“I learned there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead, and some come from behind.
But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m ready, you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”
Clearly, all kinds of lessons can be learned from the 10 short inspirational poems for children. We hope you realized the joys of children’s poetry by reading it.
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