Poetry Everywhere: "One Boy Told Me" by Naomi Shihab Nye

[@muskansethi26]

this is my favourite poem in the whole wide world!!!

[@dylan618]

This poem and this performance is a day-brightener!

[@anabellawalser1367]

The innocence of a child is so wonderfully described by Nye. It reminds me of something my little sister would say.

[@TheRealJZGames]

I especially love the line "Just think! No one has ever seen inside this peanut before!". It really shows how the small and simple facts that might seem interesting or even a new ideas to children glaze over our heads every day. None of us would have said that line simply because, well yes it is true, but who really cares? It's completely irrelevant. But to that kid, it was the most important discovery of his life at the time. Maybe we should stop to appreciate these little things a little more than we do now.

[@menginmt]

I LOVE this!! Children are wise, wise wise! If only we could remember how to think like they do.

[@ryansmith1206]

I love the speech at the first part because of how she shows that no one has ever seen the inside of a peanut! She shows that we all have that poet inside of us but we lose it. She shows how we her boy can be a poet then anyone can be a poet. She uses humor to persuade her audience that we all have a poet inside of us no matter how silly or stupid this seems. She uses her brilliant poetry style to make this into a unique statement and making this fun for anyone who listens to her beautiful words and pictures.

[@Mrkman9090]

This is a great poem by an even greater artist. This is such a simple yet delightful poem, that just gives us an insight into a toddler's mind. It shows that the thinking of a person greatly matures as you grow older.

[@SEIngraham]

Oh my...this is so precious, priceless really...don't I wish I'd written every single thing my kids had said down? And all the children who came through our home daycare? Wow...

[@RosemaryNissenWade]

Oh yes, now I am wishing it too - and so glad she did!

[@scottthomasmartin]

Love love love this!!!

[@gojoycego]

Thank you for sharing this . . .

[@elaineloudcamp9410]

My grandmother said that she had a author friend… I met her- she forgot to mention it was Naomi 😂

[@clarissawallin2078]

"I am going to send my valentines to people you don't even know!" This line shows how children are not familiar with feelings of hatred and they do not know the danger of strangers. They only know how to love, which can either make them seem naive, or extremely wise. Great poem/ideas.

[@barbarabaldwin7120]

SHE'S A BLESSING. FRIEND OF OUR MUTUAL AWARD-WINNING, BELOVED BILL STAFFORD. NAOMI LOVED HIM DEARLY, TOO!

[@perogieluver]

I love this :) " I never want to minus you".

[@cherylbianchi9616]

terrific son, great mom...

[@rr7firefly]

There are 5 people in San Antonio who tilt the balance to the good side. Naomi is one, without whom it would not as much a place to know and love. She shares her light with us -- a light that clarifies the dim edges. She reassure us that things will be okay. She reminds me of the nuns who pray for the world every day. Their prayers and good thoughts bring our little world into a healthy alignment. What would happen to us if all these people weren't around?

[@anishaggarwal4164]

This poem provided a wonderful perspective on what kids think of when they are little and their imagination. The line "if we bought our car earlier, they could've served it in a cup provides a good example of the imagination of this little kid. This kid says all the ideas in head because that's what little kids do. This kid also shows love.

[@tacopenguin99]

As children, we say whatever pops into our heads, but as we grow up and mature, we begin to dismiss these thoughts because we think that they are stupid or immature. This is a shame because these thoughts can often be our most eye opening and insightful thoughts that we have.

[@charlesstandish1735]

I especially agree with you.

[@missmsmrs.7309]

Well said. :-)

[@adityas.4561]

At first glance this seemingly disorganized array of statements looks like a jumble of things that her child(future poet maybe?) said. However upon further examination, this offers a deft insight into the mind of a child before the complete deflagration of the imagination called adulthood. A child, unaware to much of the world, sees things in his/her own special way. Finally the magic of this poem is the fact that she recorded his statements into a poem that magically speaks volumes to the innocence of a child.

[@missmsmrs.7309]

So sweet.... precious and innocent. Oh, that we might keep that special sweetness forever. Never grow away from just speaking what we feel or think without adultness.

[@shappybeats9384]

Naiomi Shihab Nye did an excellent job of using poetry and comedy to take me back to what it was like being a kid. It reminded me of all of the things my siblings and family members had said when they were younger. Very fun and enjoyable poem!

[@suea673]

Through her somewhat humorous tone, Naomi Shihab Nye gets at a deeper, more profound concept. The line that speaks to me most is when she refers to William Stafford’s response when people ask him when he became a poet, saying “that’s not really the right question. The question is ‘when did you stop being a poet.’” Children don’t feel at risk of being judged as ignorant or immature, for their minds can’t contemplate such complex ideas. Therefore, they really don’t have a filter, which can be a good thing, as demonstrated by Naomi’s poem, or a bad thing that might end up hurting one’s feelings. This leads them to saying some of the most profound and thought-provoking things, such as my favorite: “Just think! No one has ever seen inside this peanut before!"

[@LauraLoves2Laugh]

"Grown-ups keep their feet on the ground when they swing. I hate that." best line ever.

[@logans3276]

This poem shows cool new perspective, The one of a young child who is still learning about how things work. It is funny but still has good meaning to it.

[@DoohikLolwut]

We all start out being poets, and some of us stop. I found this very insightful very similar to "wisdom comes from the mouths of babes." A lot of the time kids have an undistorted view of reality that isn't warped by the life experiences that adults face, so they can see things as they truly are. Great poem/idea.

[@thecagedscrew1234]

"JUST THINK: NO ONE has ever seen inside this peanut before!" HAHA i love that part so much =)

[@urslaalwan]

Love it ....

[@captainbegs]

All children are born curious and independent thinkers with amazing ideas. Until they enter the public school system of course!

[@annej4993]

I like how she said that we were all born poets, but some of us keep up the habit. Her son saying what seem to be strange comments, shows that anyone can say something that will make you think, but a lot of us don't give it a second thought because some simple facts seem to be common sense. When we grow up, we lose our sense of curiosity and don't think about the small things as much as we used to.

[@snehas6263]

As we grow, our minds change and develop, and often times we lose our 'creative' side. I find it almost pitiful that such the innocent, and imaginative ideas that we are engrossed in when we are young fade away as we age instead of developing further.

[@joshwilson2714]

I loved the boy's simplistic observations that many adults tend to over complicate, which is why children often have more creative imaginations. Also, adults often dismiss illogical things that children say especially phrases like the ones the boy used. Adults like to over analyze things , but when they try to do this they often loose sight of the actual meaning of these phrases. This is why we as young adults and adults we have to step back and stop over complicating things(take a child perspective) in order to see the real meaning .

[@charlesstandish1735]

I think it is interesting how interesting children's minds are so creative and innocent. They haven't learned things like common sense. This makes people more open or less judging of what you say. In the first quote that her son said, "Music is coming out of my legs. It's coming out when I talk." If I, a 15 year old were to say that to someone I would look insane or just cooky. But as a child you say whatever you are thinking, whether or not it is appropriate in the situation or makes any sense. This quote could really make someone think deeply into the meaning of his thoughts. But what he says flies right over our heads because it is completely irrelevant to our daily lives.

[@thiagorodriguez785]

THIS IS A GREAT SPEECH!! :)

[@TheScrappyCat]

Absolutely wonderful!!!

[@jackb1776]

This poem showed the creativity and lack of inhibition contained in children. The quotes from the children are both comedic and telling, and show that the children have no worry for what others think of them. The children don't have common sense, and say whatever pops into their mind. While this may appear endearing on the surface, one can get into trouble later on if one talks before thinking. That being said, children don't have many negative and/or offensive things to say, and like to showcase their imagination, putting importance on things adults would never think twice about.

[@camesuband]

These are things that a five year old says that Naomi thinks are worth repeating. They all seem to have a deeper meaning to what they are saying.

[@charlesstandish1735]

2 and 3 years old cough cough

[@logans3276]

I believe the child was 2 and 3 when these things were said not 5.

[@sanfranciscoprofessor2577]

"Kids Say the Darndest Things!" Cute! Remember the old TV shows? This is right up there with Bill Cosby and Art Linkletter. Very cute. And who knew they were poets?

[@jenniferheath9532]

Poetry Everywhere is also the name of a book by Jack Collom and Sheryl Noethe, Teachers & Writers Collaborative. An amazing book, an ars poetica. Anyone who loves poetry (and kids) should read it. Strange not invite those poets to share their experiences as renowned poetry teachers.

[@AmberHannahbff]

LOL!! i LOVE this! XD

[@fireball611]

Unfortunately in this world, we are taught to be more critically and logically thinking, and are told to stray away from personal expression and thinking out loud. Even though I hear all around me "be yourself and people will like you!" and, "you are an individual, express it!" everyone knows that's just a false barrier put up to hide the fact that a lot of the time, people won't like you, and that's not a bad thing. But this child doesn't care about that, or maybe even doesn't realize it, and says whatever he feels he needs to. The audience laughs, but I think Naomi Shihab Nye knows the impact of a child speaking their mind.

[@ROBERTOLOVESYOU1]

Lolololol so so wonderful!!!!

[@andrewnorris1]

Pity we grow up and write 'rational' stuff

[@ryansmith1206]

bacon

[@ager126]

megalovania?

[@fiends8908]

It really is so fucking annoying when adults swing with their feet on the ground.