Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

A Letter To Theodor Geisel - Aka Dr Seuss

Some get hooked on poetry
By reading Robert Frost
Or Dickinson or Poe
Or others whom their paths have crossed.

In college I read Coleridge,
Byron, Shelley,Whitman, Pound,
T.S. Eliot and Wordsworth,
All in Norton’s, nicely bound.

But in truth, what got me started
Was less lofty, though enticing – 
More like turning from the cake
So I could focus on the icing.

For my intro into rhyming
(If you don’t count Mother Goose),
Were the silly stories written
By that master, Dr. Seuss.

I was lifted and delighted
By each word upon each page;
Though he also drew the pictures,
It was language that engaged.

Every rhyme and all the rhythm
Seeped by suction to my veins
And they flowed into the depths
Where the important stuff remains.

So to Dr. Seuss I owe a debt.
He changed the way I’m wired
And I wonder if he realized
All the poets he inspired.

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Casarah Nance June 26, 2014 at 8:55 PM Grats on your placement in the letters to poets contest, it is amazing how many-like me and you- chose dr. seuss, You are so right your last stanza perfect I wonder if he realized all the poets he inspired. :) Well done and cheers girl, we are the poetic children of the awesome dr. seuss :)

Sara Kendrick June 23, 2014 at 4:44 PM This is awesome work!! No wonder it is in the winners’ list..Sara

Poet Destroyer A June 21, 2014 at 10:25 PM Awesome win...PD

Monterey Sirak June 21, 2014 at 8:15 AM Thank you for entering my contest. This one was a pleasure to read; so imaginative. I think everyone got their start with Dr. Seuss or Mother Goose. I loved Are You My Mother.

Dr.Ram Mehta June 20, 2014 at 10:52 PM Congratulation on a great win on the theme of Letters to poet, ilene

Barbara Gorelick June 20, 2014 at 12:44 PM How could anyone read your poem and not be delighted. Im impressed and give you a hearty congrats. BG

Robert Johnson May 31, 2014 at 10:25 AM I'm sure that Dr. Seuss, would certainly deduce. That rhyming words and having fun is not at all obtuse. In fact, I think there is a link between his words and love. For only something that amazing could come from above. Awesome tribute ilene. Peace. :)

Ralph Sergi May 30, 2014 at 5:38 PM Hi Ilene, nice to know you: I loved your poem on the unique Dr. Suess. I recall reading with a recorder to my three daughters and asked them to repeat each line from Green eggs and ham. He was and is an icon to the younger children not unlike Ogden Nash's humorous poems,(If you go back that far). I also enjoyed Ice cube and Super. Please visit me when you have time.

Andrea Dietrich May 29, 2014 at 10:53 PM this is REALLY cool and I hope more people read and comment to this one. Many of the classic poets were kind of boring if you ask me, but I sure enjoyed reading Seuss to my kids!!! And you have given me an idea. Maybe I can write about mother goose!!!