For much of history the best stories were poems. Poetry displayed skill, clarity of mind, and insight. Some even used it to show the distinction between classes and worlds. There are entire books of it in the Bible, largely ignored for its poetic value because we are reading in translation.
And so we have castigated it as a trite and angsty form, leaving it to die alongside our own shriveled hearts.
So we need to start at the beginning.
These are poems to train children to love poetry.
Most people have heard this poem. It is Michael Caine's favorite and my aunt's, so you know it appeals to many, all who have been children at some point. It was hidden in a book of children's stories I haven't been able to get my hand on.
This poem is a list of proverbs in meter. The twists and turns of the lines give the listener a lot to play with. Is it moralizing? Yes. Who cares. It is fun.
If you do start taking this apart with your children, think of the ditch on either side of the road. Kipling is pushing the child not to think to highly of themselves and to see clearly. He wants them to avoid common pitfalls akin to give me neither poverty, nor riches et al.
From the Proverbs you can jump to Christ's words, "Blessed are you when men revile you..."
The point: Hold steady.
Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling
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