Today’s poem comes from another picture book anthology collected by the brilliant Paul B. Janeczko called “The Death of the Hat: a brief history of poetry in 50 objects” illustrated by Chris Raschka.  It’s a different approach to teaching about poetry, but one that kids might be able to relate to.  He goes in chronological order from the Early Middle Ages all the way through to Contemporary poets, selecting only poems about things.  Of course the definition of “things” is interesting in and of itself.  Sometimes animals or plants are included, as well as manhole covers and hats.  It’s an intriguing collection definitely worth a read.

The poem I picked to start off the introduction to this collection is one of my favorites in the book.  And since I’m longing, longing, LONGING to see something green like grass these days, I thought I would share this one from the Early Middle Ages and translated as well (from Chinese).  It’s called “Grass” by Bai Juyi.  I love the image of the goose that travels throughout the book (from one of the first poems in the book about a goose).  That is a VERY clever illustrator move, adding something to the text that isn’t necessarily there.

“Grass”

by Bai Juyi

translated by Lan Hua

Far far across the plain

Spreads the grass

One year to another

It withers and returns

Never extinguished

By the prairie fires

With Spring wind

It leaps back to life

Bringing near a fragrance

From an age-old path

As the green sward overgrows

Crumbling city walls

So once again my friend

We must part

With feelings deep as grass

Overtaking my heart