Acrostic
Little maidens, when you look
On this little story-book,
Reading with attentive eye
Its enticing history,
Never think that hours of play
Are your only HOLIDAY,
And that in a HOUSE of joy
Lessons serve but to annoy:
If in any HOUSE you find
Children of a gentle mind,
Each the others pleasing ever–
Each the others vexing never–
Daily work and pastime daily
In their order taking gaily–
Then be very sure that they
Have a life of HOLIDAY.
Lewis Carroll
This cheery verse arrived in my inbox from Poem-A-Day one morning last week; just about the time I was looking at Kate Greenaway illustrations, one of which I used in my previous post. The one above hopped into my view and reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s acrostic poem.
The poem was sent by Carroll to three children at Christmas . An acrostic poem is one in which the first letter of each line spells out something. In Acrostic, the letters spell out the names of the children.
Wonder if I can compose one for Kezzie and Ezra sometime soon?
How about you? Any acrostics in your future (or past)?
I do love the theKate Greenaway illustration! And I have always wanted to take the time to “know” Lewis Carroll better! I don’t know that much about him, except that I’ve always known he was very clever. This is a wonderful acrostic. I always find poetry “with a clever twist” fascinating, while at the same time being quite aware that my talents do not go in that direction! I think with your love of poetry you really could create wonderful acrostics for your babies, but I want to see what you do with three Z’s! Oh, and three E”s, too. You’d better get started soon. It may take a while. 🙂
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Me, too, Debra. I really wasn’t away of his poetry until I saw this. So much “out there” in life I need to learn. Ha! The three z’s will be a challenge. Kezzie’s given name is Keziah, so, I’ll go with that and skip a z. I’ll let you know if I succeed. tee hee
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My mother composed one for me as a birthday poem, and did one for my brothers and sisters too. What a wonderful idea to compose one for your grandchildren. I must try too.
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I wonder if you still have that birthday poem, Juliet? What a wonderful birthday idea. Let me know if you compose one.
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Oh, I love acrostics. I used to have my students make one at the beginning of the school year. I would print them up on nice paper, laminate them, and taa daaa…Open House display. Parents always liked them and I have even seen parents use them as a display when the child graduated from high school. I was touched that they had been kept.
This is a fun post, Penny. I love the Greenaway illustration with the Lewis Carrol poem.
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That’s a great project, Janet, and how wonderful that so many parents saved them and used them later on for graduation. I’m tempted to make for the kids.
Thank you. We all need a little fun sometimes. Kate Greenaway is always a good illustrator to rely on, isn’t she?
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That was fun, Penny. I’ve never tried my hand at an acrostic, but this makes me want to gave a go…. 🙂
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Glad to hear that, Perpetua – give it a go!
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I wish I were better at these types of word games. Alas, I am not, but I love this one, both the story and the artwork.
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I’m not either, Andra, but, may give it a whirl.
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An acrostic poem just might be something to try on a snowy day. Thanks for the inspiration.
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You are welcome, Belle. I hope you have some fun with an acrostic poem.
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How strange you should ask me today, Penny!I love your acrostic poem – so charming. But today I stumbled on a Roman early christian acrostic coded message. It’s here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kateshrewsday/8448053105/in/photostream
The words read the same across, down and backwards, scratched onto a piece of Roman wall plaster.
I can’t make head or tail of it: but I like the thought.
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Thanks, Kate. It’s interesting how these “things” seem to show up in clusters, and that you stumbled upon such an ancient acrostic at the same time Carroll’s acrostic poem crossed my path. Can you imagine writing this, on stone, no less? I imagine it was coded to carry a message of Christianity in times of persecution. Thanks for sharing this.
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Dear Penny, I have nary a doubt that you could compose an acrostic for Kezzie and Ezra. Peace.
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With all this fine encouragement, I just may give it a try, Dee. Thank you.
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Oh my goodness – if you come up with those poems, I hope you share them. The Kate Greenway is wonderful.
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[…] on a balcony. There, before him, was the Mutual of New York Building. Mony Mony! Not exactly acrostic but fun, […]
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I either learned something new by reading this post, or something I had forgotten! If you ever do write that acrostic poem for Kezzie and Ezra I hope you share it here!
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You may have had to do a class exercise at some point in time where you were writing an acrostic poem, Janet, and just no longer remember the name for it. I didn’t remember it until it popped up in my inbox. I will post a poem if I ever come up with one. All those zzz’s!
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haha – I forgot about all those z’s! That would be a challenge!
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[…] silly and acrostic poem from the […]
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nice!
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