Writer Wendell Berry is known for many things – poetry, novels, short stories, essays, his longstanding opposition to what he calls industrial agriculture, his regional depictions of Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley. Berry is not generally known as a children’s poet, although his poetry, especially his poems about the natural world, have a childlike simplicity and appeal about them.
For years, illustrator Tom Pohrt had been gathering those Berry poems that might appeal to children. Pohrt had written and illustrated numerous children’s books, including Crow and Weasel by Barry Lopez and Careless Rambles by John Clare, both selections of their writings or poems that might appeal to children. A correspondence between Pohrt and Berry began, long-time Berry book designer David Bullen joined in, and the result was Terrapin and Other Poems.
The book is slender at 49 pages, and contains only 21 poems, small for an adult poetry book. But the poems, with Pohrt’s illustrations, are a marvel. You look at the natural world with the wonder and sometimes quiet awe of a child.
Consider something as simple as a group of finches.
The Finches
The ears stung with cold
and frost of dawn
in early April, comes
the song of winter finches,
their crimson bright, then
dark as they move into
and then against the light.
May the year warm them
soon. May they soon go
north with their singing
and the seasons to follow.
May the bare sticks soon
live, and our minds go free
of the ground
into the shining of trees.
Pohrt’s illustration for the poem “The Unseeable Animal”
What begins as a simple observation – finches in the cold morning hours of early spring – becomes both an anticipation of the warming season and an identification with the natural world” “…and our minds go free / of the ground / into the shining of trees.” Berry effectively uses simple language here (no word is longer than two syllables) to highlight the essential beauty of an early April morning.
The poems cover a range of natural subjects – a squirrel, a snake, a horse, a calf, the woods, a late snow, seasons, the planting of trees. Each uses simple language; each communicates a sense of quiet and wonder. “My Nose, ” which I suppose can be described a poem about the natural order, is the kind of funny poem that would appeal to children (while we adults we smile and murmur at the idea of calling someone’s nose an onion or a carrot).
The illustrations by Pohrt match that sense of quiet and wonder exactly. The pictures contain an innocence, much like the innocence of the poems.
Terrapin and Other Poems is a beautiful book, designed for children and the child in all of us.
Photo by Nakae, Creative Commons, via Flickr. Post by Glynn Young, author of the novels Dancing Priest and A Light Shining, and Poetry at Work.
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Maureen Doallas says
Lovely illustration. There is lyricism and music in ‘The Finches’, very appealing.
Glynn says
Maureen, thanks for reading for for the comment!
Mary Sayler says
Glynn, I’m such a fan of God’s creations and Wendell Berry that I’m delighted to hear of this book for children. And since I strongly urge Christian poets to read and study Berry’s poetry, I’ll highlight your post on the Christian Poets & Writers blog – http://www.christianpoetsandwriters.com. God bless.
Glynn says
Mary, I saw a reference to children’s poetry by Berry and followed the link. It was published last fall. Thanks for reading!
Megan Willome says
That sounds so fantastic!
Jerry says
Have it. Beautiful book in all respects.
Katie says
Glynn,
Many thanks for sharing about the poems of Wendell Berry.
I am currently reading a book of his titled, Jayber Crow, as part of a Book Club lead by Michele Morin (through her Living Our Days blog).
What a thoughtful writer and intriguing style he has. I’m looking forward to reading more of his fiction and poetry.
I also appreciate your post on John Bunyan’s poems for children, this September.
Me thinks I shall have to increase my book budget!
Gratefully,
Katie