Poetry as Children's Literature Inspiration
Poetry as Children’s Literature Inspiration
The King’s Word
by Patricia Tiffany Morris
Have you ever written a children’s story that later became a poem? This is the state of an imagined children’s series called “The King’s Words.” I have one book written long form called “Belonging” and another called “Being Enough." I have the beginnings of several words that children experience, such as “Kindness” and “Patience” and “Gratitude”. Each story features letters as characters who reveal the world of allegory through learning about the King’s words for kids today and yesterday.Our King’s words are indeed powerful and encouraging and hopeful. May you be encouraged as you read these words as if from God the Father to you, His precious child.
Painting Concept in Oil Crayons on smooth canvas board copyright 2022 by Patricia Tiffany Morris as inspiration for the children’s story series.
The King’s Word
A short poetic prose version of a potential children’s picture book in the works for 2026.
Winner of 2nd place in the NFSPS Contest in 2024.
PUBLISHED ON AMAZON on JUNE 12, 2024.
The King’s Word
First published in Encore: 2024 Prize Poems - An anthology by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, NFSPS. Editor, Kathy L. Cotton.
Love always, because of Jesus Christ,
Patricia
Words of the poem, “The King’s Word,” printed below for alternative text readers without the original formatting of indents and spaces.
The King’s Word
A long time ago, the King’s faithful letters,
and the beautiful words they had made,
gathered under the giant orange tree,
and sat
in the shade
on the tallest mountain in the land.
The tree was no ordinary tree. It belonged
to the King whose light shone from his words.
The fiery-orange, sun-kissed leaves swayed
in the wind. And the tree’s roots hung upside down
and swung like ropes from branches,
begging the letters to bathe in the light.
The light from the King’s castle
helped everyone forget about the sad,
and lonely yesterdays.
The villagers came one by one and sprinkled
their colored tears over the land in the shade
of the giant orange tree.
One day silence gathered the stars
above the King’s village and the sky listened.
A long silence,
like a restful nap in the middle of the day,
blanketed the earth.
Then a brave voice whispered,
“Where do I belong?”
The village heard the King’s answer
like a spring breeze fresh from the mountain tops.
“You belong to me. No matter where you live.
Or what you have done.
You are loved and you matter to others in this world,
today, tomorrow, and forever. You belong to me.”
The King’s voice broke through their darkness.
“Yes. As you have prayed, I will help you.
Those who are brave enough to sail
across the water-waves can now have courage
to tell everyone they matter to me.”
The letters,
and the words they had made together, smiled.
Everyone matters.
Everyone can choose to live with the King
in his forever place
and sing His belonging-song under sun-kissed leaves.
He hears you. You belong to the King.
Yesterday, today, and forever.
Written by Patricia Tiffany Morris
Thank you!
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