I hated poetry as a child. Nothing was dreaded more than the inevitable spring assignment to write a poem about some aspect of nature. I would sit, pencil poised, waiting for inspiration to strike. and nothing would come. I would sit outside, close my eyes and listen, just like the teacher said, but the breezes didn't speak to me, nor did the flowers whisper their secrets. I thought a bee was whispering in my ear once in fourth grade. but it turned out that he was just wishing for nectar from the plastic flower on my hair clip. The most I could conjure was some tacky little set of couplets in which the ending words of each line rhymed. I wouldn't call it poetry, I knew then that it wasn't, it was just something I contrived to get over the assignment.
In retrospect, the problem is clear. I could not write poetry, because I had not read or heard poetry. Of course, the teacher would read three examples of Haiku before she set us to writing, but that can hardly be called a poetry rich environment. Research tells us that good readers are those raised in an environment of many written words; their parents read to them, they see their parents reading, the love for reading is passed on almost as surely as the curly hair that came from Grandma. Good writers, are often borne of prolific readers. Saturated in the words and writing styles of the great authors of all time, they develop a style all their own, drawn from the example of others. The same can be said of poetry.
For our children to enjoy poetry they must see us enjoying poetry (and I do NOT mean the "there once was a man from Nantucket" variety that every Grandfather feels it his duty to pass down!) In order to love it, they must see it being loved. In order to read it properly, they must first hear it read. In order to write it well, they must be saturated in the great poetic works of all time, as well as the sweet little vignettes we associate with childhood.
WHY should we teach poetry? If written words are musical notes, then poetry is the symphony. Any one can combine the rudiments of language to get a point across; it takes a love of words, and the subject at hand to begin to compose a poem. Poetry is an expression of a personal connection to a being or an object. It takes pains to go beyond the obvious and to use language worthy of the subject to express it's intent. I know parents who say "I never liked poetry much, and it isn't really relevant to daily life. I'd rather spend that time teaching something that matters, like math." To which my not so delicate answer is this: Who cares what you liked! Poetry may have been the bane of your existence, but it may be the nectar of life to your child! Poetry not relevant! What! Tell me what could be more relevant than the ability to eloquently express one's self in matters of the heart and mind? What is more relevant than having in your command the words and ways of combining them which move the hearts of God and man alike (there is much poetry in the Bible).
If words are the milk, poetry is the cream. Instead of skimming it off to be used later so that the milk may be consumed more quickly, I encourage you to stir that cream back in and feed your children the fattening milk of many words and much poetry. Begin with nursery rhymes in the cradle. Continue with such wonderfully illustrated volumes as A Child's Garden of Verses. Memorize selections from anthologies for children, such as Poems for Memorization, or Favorite Poems Old and New. Then, just when they least expect it, skim off some of that cream and make ice cream! The really good stuff! Read aloud The Pilgrim's Progress, or The Odyssey. Read Shakespeare's plays, even to the very young. If it is not your cup of tea, then ACT like it is the fascinating, wonderful stuff that it is. for your children's sake. Write poems together to accompany the drawings in your nature notebooks, or stick a little love poem into a lunch box to be enjoyed along with a foil wrapped chocolate heart.
Make poetry come alive in your home, for your children. Even if it never did for you. Begin simply, with the gentle poetry written for young children. Fall in love together with the lovely mixture of words and sentiment. Don't allow poetry to become the thing you'll get to if all of the other lessons are done. for they are never done, and you'll never get to it. Read a poem over breakfast, quote a poem to the birds as you feed them, memorize a poem from Scripture, whatever suits you. Give your children the gift of poetry.