So I asked my youngest son, What makes a poem a poem?

And here is what he said:

I love his answer, even though I don't agree with all of it. I love his confidence that all poems tell stories, that poems have "tricky words," that poems are "fast and interesting." My favorite part is when he says, "You can't really know that question" even though I know I'll continue to try to "know these questions" (but maybe not try to answer them) about poetry because that's part of what makes me a poet and makes me love poetry.

And here, as I sign off for the year, is my little pragmatist reciting a poem he learned at day care:

Happy National Poetry month!