Monday Poetry Stretch - Metaphor Poems

I was cleaning out the files in my office this week and came across some literacy poems published in The Reading Teacher. One got me thinking about about similies and metaphors. Here it is.

A Book Is Like
by Kathy Leeuwenburg

A book is like an open flower, scented pages, fragrant hours.

A book is like a crafty fox, surprising in its clever plots.

A book is like a fairy's wings, with princesses, enchanted kings.

A book is like a windowsill, where breezy thoughts are never still.

A book is like an hour glass, whose pages flow as hours pass.

A book is like a lock and key that opens doors and sets minds free.

A book is like an ancient clock that speaks the times but never talks.

A book is like an open letter, when read again the friendship's better.

A book is like an apple core with seeds inside for growing more.

A book is like a trusted friend that keeps its secret to the end.


Leeuwenburg, K. (1994). A book is like. The Reading Teacher, 47(6), 463.

Elaine left a comment suggesting this poem would work better as a metaphor poem (taking out all the "is like" statements). I completely agree. Here's what it would look like with this revision.

A Book Is
adapted from a poem by Kathy Leeuwenburg

A book is
an open flower
scented pages, fragrant hours

a crafty fox
surprising in its clever plots

a fairy's wings
with princesses, enchanted kings

a windowsill
where breezy thoughts are never still

an hour glass
whose pages flow as hours pass

a lock and key
that opens doors and sets minds free

an ancient clock
that speaks the times but never talks

an open letter
when read again the friendship's better

an apple core
with seeds inside for growing more

a trusted friend
that keeps its secret to the end

So, your challenge is to write a metaphor poem. Once you're done, leave me a comment about your work and I'll post the results here later this week.