Let Children Teach us To See Again

Summary

A poem reflects on the innocence and imaginative perspective of a child, encouraging adults to rediscover the wonder in the world through their eyes.

Abstract

The poem "Let Children Teach us To See Again" uses the interaction between a little girl with curly hair and her babysitter to illustrate the contrast between adult preconceptions and a child's vibrant imagination. The girl's unconventional color choices for her drawing of a tree spark a gentle correction from the babysitter, who insists on realistic colors. However, the child confidently asserts the validity of her vision, describing how the tree appears to her in the rain. The poem culminates in a moment of shared discovery as the child leads the babysitter to the window to witness the magic of her perspective. The piece is dedicated to Sylvia Wohlfarth, whose own poetry and curly hair inspire the author, and concludes with a thank you to the reader, embodying a wish for miracles.

Opinions

The author suggests that children possess a unique ability to perceive the world in a way that adults often overlook.
There is a subtle critique of the way adults can impose their own rigid expectations on children, potentially stifling their creativity and imagination.
The poem celebrates the resilience and confidence of children in the face of correction, as the little girl stands by her artistic choices.
The child's perspective is portrayed as a source of joy and rejuvenation for adults, with the potential to remind them of their own lost sense of wonder.
The dedication to Sylvia Wohlfarth indicates the author's admiration for her poetry and the personal connection the author feels towards the theme of the poem.

Allow them to tug you to a magical world.

The littlest girl With the curly hair Has gaps in her smile And Lisps

She drew a tree Colored the leaves white And its trunk Colored it black

“Oh but that’s the wrong color,” The babysitter admonished “Tree trunks are not black They’re tan And leaves, for godsakes, Take a look; they’re always green!”

The little girl Put down her crayon Took a deep breath Ruffled her curls…

“Oh but they are,” Cooed the child. “When it’s raining They are black And leaves Sparkle.”

So, holding the sitter by the hand To the window, she slowly tugged To show her the magic.

“Let the children’s laughter, remind us how we used to be.” ~ Whitney Houston, The Greatest Love of All

This one I dedicate to my friend, Sylvia Wohlfarth. From Sylvia’s beautiful poetry, I’ve come to learn how curly her hair was. Is. And while she might not know this about me, little girls with curly hair have always warmed my heart. It is with her in mind that the littlest girl in my poem came to be.

THANK YOU FOR READING I Wish You Miracles.

POETRY

Let Children Teach us To See Again

Allow them to tug you to a magical world.