Poetry for and by children

Vachel Lindsay historic site offers programs introducing children to the beauty and fun of poetry

[January 10, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — Children can learn about the fun and beauty of poetry — both listening to it and making it — in a series of workshops offered by the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site.

The workshops include a chance to collaborate on a group poem, take the words of poems and mix them up to create something new and original, and write their own poems about food.

The activities are sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Vachel Lindsay Association.

The workshop schedule is:

• Jan. 11, 2 p.m. — Collaborating on a linked poem that builds on some of Vachel Lindsay’s own poetry. This collaborative style started in Japan and is called "renga."

• Feb. 15, 2 p.m. — Making "jigsaw" poems. Children will hear many short poems, then cut those poems up and change the words around to make their own work.

• March 8, 2 p.m. — Lunchbox poetry. Children of all ages will discover savory poems that could fill their lunchbox and then write a food poem of their own.

The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free public tours. The home, located at 603 S. Fifth St. in Springfield, was built about 1850. Poet, author and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was born there in 1879 and died there in 1931.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]