Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle

In 1972, I chose several poems from Reflections... for a poetry anthology I compiled as a project for my Children's Literature course. This course was an elective course I took while earning my B.A. in teaching. For many years, this book was part of my classroom. Yesterday, I read "Crossing" by Philip Booth (about watching a train at a railroad crossing) from that book at a variety show at my church. Today, four people requested the title of the book I read that poem from! For 30 years, I have recommended this book -- I should get a commission on the number of copies I have sold! Makes a wonderful birthday, holiday, etc. gift for any child.

This colection is one that every poetry lover should purchase, the poems are strickingly simple and moving, they are ones that have stuck in my head for a long long time. I read this book cover to cover during an 8th form poetry project and fell in love with it. It goes on my list of fantastic poetry. There are many metaphores and similies in it that have stuck in my mind for the past year since I read this book (the concept of an apartment building as a filing cabenit of people's lives, the poem about the plums that is so simple yet so complex in its simplicity and the final poems line of "when unicorns were still possible" have all stuck with me for the past 11 months as I trad through life without this book before rediscovering it.) I hope that everyone gets a chance to read this book.Peace to you

I was given this book as a gift when I was ten. I have read and reread the poems over the years and find myself returning to this collection whenever a younger friend has a report or paper to do on poetry--and then I end up reading it again. e.e.cummings, Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost...a delightful book to own.

i had to do a project of poetry and this book made it more fun and enjoyable and i'm in 9th grade!

I work with a lot of students and the poems in this book are guaranteed to help them like poetry. From Eve Merriams How to Eat a Poem, and Updike's Sonic Boom and even poems of the death of animals- this collection is deep and broad representing some of the best poets of this era. A must for anyone who wants to introduce students to good poetry.