Valerie Worth (1933-1994)
Anyone who has ever heard me speak about poetry knows that one of my favorite poets is Valerie Worth. Her classic book, Small Poems, was first published in 1972. I love these short poems about common objects. Here’s one for fall:
Acorn
by Valerie Worth
An acorn
Fits perfectly
Into its shingled
Cup, with a stick
Attached
At the top,
Its polished
Nut curves
In the shape
Of a drop, drawn
Down to a thorn
At the tip.
And its heart
Holds folded
Thick white fat
From which
A marvelous
Tree grows up:
I think no better
Invention or
Mechanical trick
Could ever
Be bought
In a shop.
I love that second stanza especially. Valery Worth rocks!
I love Valerie Worth’s poetry too — her facility with language, capturing objects and moments with what feels like such ease and simplicity, but of course, conveying something greater. My daughter’s elementary school librarian introduced me to her, so when I read Valerie Worth, I will forever think of that time in our lives too.
Love this. Almost all her words are so simple and accessible, but what she does with them!