Down with poetry!” some say. Why all the negative attitudes toward poems? Maybe you got a bad taste in your mouth from an anxious teacher who kept the thrill and meaning of a sonnet at arm’s length. Good poetry is accessible—or should be. Every song you love, greeting card that makes you giggle, and even passages from your favorite novelists use poetic language. Rhyming is irrelevant.

Try a family poetry evening. Pick a poem your whole family will enjoy. Perhaps an A.A. Milne classic about Winnie-the-Pooh, or something from Shel Silverstein. Skip the reruns and read aloud. Whatever you do, don’t merely say the words; think about them first. Get into the meaning behind the phrases to discover the poet’s intent. Use your emotions and speak as loudly, quietly, or plainly as needed to make the poem come alive.

Consider having everyone pick a short ditty to commit to memory. (Of course, you will almost certainly have to help out with the selections.) Not only will your kids be challenged, but they will sharpen a much-neglected faculty. Some things, like multiplication tables, must be learned by heart. This exercise shows them they can succeed.

When everyone has his or her poem firmly implanted, have a special evening performance. Keep it low-key. You’ll be as nervous and excited as the rest of the crew. Both hearer and speaker gain new understanding as poetic images sparkle.

Poetry refuses to let us gloss over deep meanings. It forces us to think and gives us time to ponder both joy and pain. Your child’s life is a poem written by God. Help your offspring discover the beauty of the Creator written on the soul.