Poet Valerie Worth is a champion of the small. She writes small poems about small things. Literally.
Valerie Worth, is most famous for her “small poems,” poems for children about everyday objects. She said:
“As a child, I preferred reading and writing to everything else, and I still feel much the same way. I was also greatly attracted to ‘smallness,’ perhaps because throughout grade school I myself was the smallest in my class. My favorite fairy tale was ‘Catskin,’ about the princess given three ball gowns–one like the sun, one like the moon, and one like the stars–packed up in a walnut shell; and the idea of such magnificence hidden inside so plain and tiny a thing not only fascinates me still, but also has served as a model for many of my poems.” (from Writer’s Almanac)
Her books include Small Poems (1972), Small Poems Again (1986), and Curlicues: The Fortunes of Two Pug Dogs (1980). Here is a poem from More Small Poems. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Copyright 1976, called “Safety Pin.” I’ve read her Small Poems book and it is delightful.
Safety Pin
Closed, it sleeps
On its side
Quietly,
The silver
Image
Of some
Small fish;
Opened, it snaps
Its tail out
Like a thin
Shrimp, and looks
At the sharp
Point with a
Surprised eye.
—————–Did you ever think you would enjoy a poem about a safety pin? I love stories like these, where a fairy tale leads to a magical way of seeing things and a life’s work. We need to follow what inspires us, even if it is a small thing. Thoughts? Questions? I hope life is treating you well.
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I love small things. I’ve done poems on paper clips, buttons, car keys, and yes, safety pins. Great post!
Hi Barbara,
Great to hear from you! I love small things, too, and little containers (boxes, bowls, jars) to organize small things. Old keys are my favorites. I love to think of what doors they used to open.
Susan, I’ve not run across you before but am glad I did. You’ve reminded me of collections of small things that well could be written into poems, thank you.
Hi Rachealgrace,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad the post was helpful. I hope you will visit again soon!
All the best,
Susan
I love the website!!!!!!!!!!!It helped me get inspired to write a poem called “Little Star Little Star”!!!!
I’m studying her poems in class!
That’s cool, Faith. I hope you are enjoying the class. Happy New Year!
hi i just joined today and this really helped me in school thank you!!!
hi! i ove ur poems im just a regular student at highcroft drive elamenntry 🙂
Thanks for stopping by for the poems, Wendy. 🙂
You’re welcome, Juliana. 🙂
Hi! My name is mia I loved what you wrote about Valerie’s worth. It helped so much in school today. I got a project to do an assignment on Valerie worth. I told my teacher about you and asked me to ask you if you could come to our school. We live in NC wake forest Jones dairy elementary. Bye!
Hi Mia. I’m glad you found my post on Valerie Worth’s poems helpful. I’m not doing school visits at the moment, but please give your teacher my best.
With every good wish,
Susan