Eugene Field

I really enjoy the poetry of Eugene Field, his rhyme, his rhythm, his subject matter; its all enjoyable.  Here's one I read to the kids today, which they loved, and so did I.

Pittypat And Tippytoe

All day long they come and go-
Pittypat and Tippytoe;
Footprints up and down the hall,
Playthings scattered on the floor,
Finger-marks along the wall,
Tell-tale smudges on the door-
By these presents you shall know
Pittypat and Tippytoe

How they riot at their play!
And a dozen times a day
In they troop, demanding bread-
Only buttered bread will do,
And that butter must be spread
Inches thick with sugar too!
And I never can say, "No,
Pittypat and Tippytoe!"

Sometimes there are griefs to soothe,
Sometimes ruffled brows to smooth;
For (I much regret to say)
Tippytoe and Pittypat
sometimes interrupt their play
With an internecine spat
Fie, for shame! to quarrel so-
Pittypat and Tippytoe!

Oh, the thousand worrying things
Every day recurrent brings!
Hands to scrub and hair to brush,
Search for playthings gone amiss,
Many a wee complaint to hush,
Many a little bump to kiss;
Life seems one vain, fleeting show
To Pittypat and Tippytoe!

And when day is at an end,
There are little duds to mend:
Little frocks are strangely torn,
Little shoes great holes reveal,
Little hose, but one day worn,
Rudely yawn at toe and heel!
Who but you could work such woe,
Pittypat and Tippytoe?

But when comes this thought to me:
"Some there are that childless be,"
Stealing to their little beds,
With a love I cannot speak,
Tenderly I stroke their heads-
Fondly kiss each velvet cheek.
God help those who do not know
A Pittypat or Tippytoe!

On the floor and down the hall,
Rudely smutched upon the wall
There are proofs in every kind
Of the havoc they have wrought
And upon my heart you'd find
Just such trade-marks, if you sought
Oh, how glad I am 'tis so,
Pittypat and Tippytoe!

Do you have a Pittypat or Tippytoe in your home? 

A Case For Poetry

Most of us would have to admit that poetry is not in our list of "Top 10 things that we love most in life." However, when it comes to training our children in school it has many benefits. Charlotte Mason said (paraphrased) that the purpose of memorizing poetry is to give our children something good to think about. We have all heard the saying, "An idle mind is the devil's playground." The Bible has much to say about thinking on good things. Even phsycology tells us that what we think about has a big influence on our attitudes and behavior. That is why in our homeschool we memorize lots of Scripture along with Hymns of our faith and poetry. Along this line we also provide for our children good stories and fun Christian music to listen to. (I highly recommend the group "Go Fish")

Here's an example of a poem I will have Breck memorize:
WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN
A Child should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Cute, huh?

Here are some other good reasons for reading and memorizing poetry: Reading poetry enhances a child's knowledge of the English language since poetry uses language that we are often unfamiliar with. Second, it improves their critical thinking skills because the meaning of the poem is not always immediately clear. It requires them to think about what the author was really trying to say. Third, memorizing poetry strengthens their brain. And fourth, by requiring them to recite the poem to someone else, you are teaching good speaking abilities.