Rainbows and Smiles

Poems for Children, by C.J. Heck

Hello, I’m C.J. I love writing essays on kids and childhood, and all kinds of poetry. But my favorite is poetry for children from toddlers on up to … how old did you say you were?

As always, the poetry is written from a child’s point of view as they find their way through the sometimes puzzling world around them. I love being a grownup friend who can help and guide them.

Here are a few poems for children from preschool on up. I invite your inner child to read them, too:

Glad

Being glad is simple,
and feeling, glad is great.
Sometimes glad is liking
almost everything on my  plate.

I feel that way with birthdays.
Birthdays make me glad.
I like writing "I Love You"
in cards for mom and dad.

But sometimes, glad is hard to find,
like when angry came, last week.
Glad was nowhere, pushed away,
and sad ran down my cheek.

Angry didn't stay too long.
That's good, 'cause it felt bad.
when it was gone, then it made room
to again feel gladly glad.

-*-

Children of the Rainbow

I talked to Grammy yesterday
about a girl I know.
Her skin's a different color,
but I like her, even though

the other children tease her
and it makes her run away,
because she looks so different
and they won't let her play.

I think she looks just beautiful.
Her skin is chocolate brown.
She's the nicest girl I've ever met
and I’m sad to see her frown.

Grammy held me on her lap
and told me she was proud.
She said that's what's important
and then my gram allowed

that children are God's rainbow,
black and yellow, red and white.
The colors aren't what matter,
what does, is down inside.

I asked her if that's what it means
when we say we're colorblind ...
She told me that it should mean that
in all hearts and in all minds.

-*-

Growing Things

Daddy planted grass seeds
and up popped new green grass.
When mommy planted flower seeds,
pretty flowers came up fast.

I don't understand it.
I planted my seeds, too.
My spot has lots of sunshine
and I watered, but nothing grew.

I guess it's something grownups know.
Maybe kids just can't plant seeds ...
'cause the bird seeds that I planted
didn't grow any birds for me.

-*-

Baby Brother

My baby brother falls a lot.
I see how sad he feels.
I think baby brothers
should come with training wheels.

-*-

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