Eve Merriam

July 19, 1916- 1992

Eve Merriam was a poet, playwright, director and lecturer. She is a master at using metaphors to craft a poem. These are two of my favorite ones. Each poem gives me food for thought.   
Metaphor by Eve Merriam
Morning is
a new sheet of paper
for you to write on.

Whatever you want to say,
all day,
until night
folds it up
and files it away.

The bright words and the dark words
are gone
until dawn
and a new day
to write on.


How To Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam

Don't be polite.

Bite in.

Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that

may run down your chin.

It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon

or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core

or stem

or rind

or pit

or seed

or skin

to throw away.

Eve Merriam wrote many poetry books. One poetry Inner City Mother Goose was the basis for the 1971 Broadway musical, Inner City. This is a link to a complete list of the books she has authored.http://www.directtextbook.com/author/eve-merriam

In 1981, she was named the winner of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.

I have enjoyed using her books in the classroom. Blackberry Ink is a fun book for young readers. It is a collection of humorous and nonsense rhymes on various themes.