It Doesn't Always Have to Rhyme by Eve Merriam
"It Doesn't Always Have to Rhyme" by Eve Merriam is a collection of poetry specifically crafted for young readers, exploring themes related to poetry itself, including diverse forms and playful word meanings. Published in the context of Merriam's prolific career from 1962 to 1992, this volume showcases her signature blend of lyrical quality, humor, and rich rhythm. The collection consists of fifty-nine poems presented in a non-linear format that encourages exploration and discovery among its readers. While the title suggests a departure from traditional rhyme, the poems frequently incorporate unexpected and artful rhymes, making them engaging for both silent reading and read-aloud experiences.
Merriam's work is characterized by a balance of light-hearted verse that elicits smiles and laughter alongside more profound pieces that evoke a sensory appreciation of language. Accompanied by whimsical illustrations, the poems aim to resonate emotionally with young audiences. The collection has received consistent praise and is often cited in children's literature references, further establishing Merriam as a significant figure in poetry for young people. Overall, "It Doesn't Always Have to Rhyme" exemplifies Merriam’s contribution to encouraging youth engagement with poetry, making it a notable resource for educators and young readers alike.
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It Doesn't Always Have to Rhyme by Eve Merriam
First published: 1964; illustrated
Subjects: Education
Type of work: Poetry
Recommended Ages: 10-15
Form and Content
Eve Merriam wrote both fiction and nonfiction for young people over a thirty-year period, from 1962 to 1992. Merriam, who was wordstruck and versatile, created poems that are not only lyrical but rich in other ways as well, including wordplay and humor. It Doesn’t “Always” Have to Rhyme is representative of Merriam’s body of poetry for young people. Indeed, the only way in which this volume is not characteristic of Merriam’s body of work is that no political satire or social concerns are explicitly treated.
It Doesn’t “Always” Have to Rhyme was Merriam’s second volume of poetry for young people and also the second volume in a trilogy including There Is No Rhyme for Silver (1962) and Catch a Little Rhyme (1966). It contains fifty-nine poems spread over eighty pages. Because the poems are not arranged by any apparent classification scheme, the book invites browsing, and thus new interests or appreciations may be discovered. The majority of the verses focus on the nature of poetry, various poetry forms, basic elements of poetry, word meaning, and wordplay. One concrete poem is included among the free verse and rhyme. As a result, this volume is particularly useful in English language arts classes.
With the title, some readers may be in for a surprise: There is considerable rhyme in the volume. It is often presented, however, in places and ways that are unexpected, although artful. Because Merriam had a lifelong love of literature and theater, it is not surprising that her poems are also rich in rhythm and in sound (including rhyme). Many of the verses beg to be read aloud. Humor, another characteristic of Merriam’s writing, is liberally sprinkled throughout It Doesn’t “Always” Have to Rhyme. Young people may smile, chuckle, or even laugh out loud as they read her light verse. Also presented, however, are poems of what some critics might call a more substantial stature. These are the poems that involve one or more of the reader’s senses and allow them to experience the exquisite beauty of language in unique forms. In all her poems, Merriam speaks to the experience of her readers and often evokes an emotional response. In this way, she is an authentic poet.
Small, rather whimsical line drawings by Malcolm Spooner accompany fifteen of the poems. While nicely rendered, they neither clarify nor extend the poems and merely act as decoration.
Critical Context
It Doesn’t “Always” Have to Rhyme has been cited consistently in major children’s literature textbooks and literature reference sources. It has always garnered favorable reviews—most being very favorable. Only the rare reviewer has praised the volume as a whole but noted that a few of its poems fall a little flat. Such criticism has been the extent of the negative reaction to this work.
In 1981, Eve Merriam won the highly respected National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry, which was created in 1977 to honor living poets for the body of their work. As the fifth recipient of that award, Merriam had published only eleven of the twenty-three volumes of poetry for young people that she ultimately wrote. That honor speaks to the enormous strength of her work, as does the statement by some literature experts that Merriam was probably one of the most anthologized poets for children during the time that she wrote for them. Other critics have referred to Merriam as one of America’s most beloved poets.
It Doesn’t “Always” Have to Rhyme, along with the trilogy bookends There Is No Rhyme for Silver and Catch a Little Rhyme, established Merriam as a major poet for young people; Catch a Little Rhyme was adapted into a sound recording at Caedmon. One rarely hears or reads about only one volume in this trilogy, further affirming the strength of the work—both its parts and its sum. Some have contended that the trilogy was part of Merriam’s efforts to help young people enjoy, know about, and, if so inclined, write poetry. That contention is difficult to refute.