POETRY WORKSHOP
Crossing the generation gap
Alison Chisholm explores a simple, wintry poem with equal appeal to both children and adults
Alison Chisholm
COLD COLD WINTER
Snow has fallen overnight, Everything covered In a carpet of white. I’m warm and snug, So I plan to stay Safe inside On this cold cold day. Soon the children Will come out to play Making the most Of their snow Play day. Snowmen made With joy and laughter; Sadly, they will Melt soon after. Next there are Make do sledges Disappearing From view Behind the hedges. I can hear The screams of joy From all the little Girls and boys. How long will This carpet Of white remain, No doubt to disappear As fast as it came On this cold cold Winter’s day?
In the past, there used to be a perceived distinction between poems written for young and adult readers. While there was always a grey area in the middle, with poems that would appeal to all ages, publishers would target their books, designing and marketing them to the different age requirements of readers.
More recently, though, there have been moves to publish anthologies that cater equally for children and adults alongside age-specific books, and suggestions in requests for submissions have offered poets the challenge of writing for the entire readership.