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Children are exposed to poetry from a very early age, whether intentional or not. Children are entranced and delighted by rhythm and rhyme, two very common aspects of children's poetry. The most well-known children's poet is, of course, Dr. Seuss. With a plethora of books such as The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss has enchanted children for years. However, although the good doctor is famous for his nonsensical and fun words such as "diffendoofer" or "fizza-ma-wizza-ma-dill", and his childlike plots such as running away to the circus, or counting fish, his books often contain a deeper meaning that may not be immediate to the reader, regardless of age.

A great example of this is the ever-famous Oh The Places You'll Go!, published on July 20th, 1990. The book speaks of the long journey the reader has ahead of them; the journey through life. To a child, this may be a fun adventure through a multicolored landscape, but to an older reader, the journey that "you" (the protagonist) take through the book becomes an allegory for their own life; they can travel through a whole spectrum of places and ideas (physically or metaphorically), or they can be stuck in "The Waiting Place," where nothing ever occurs because everyone is too afraid to act. The book can easily be read as a motivational/warning speech to anyone, at any age; don't be afraid of the journey ahead, you'll find your way there. Oh The Places You'll Go! is a common graduation present for high-schoolers in the United States and Canada, as a reference to how many different ways their life can go now that they've finished school.

Dr. Seuss's "Waiting Place," where everyone is always 
waiting for someone else to do something.

Does all poetry gain deeper meaning as the reader grows older? Not necessarily; some poems about hopping on your father are simply poems about hopping on your father. But certain poems can be read with a much greater meaning, that only becomes visible once the reader has gained age, experience, and wisdom. And with an author like Dr. Seuss, readers are delighted by the newfound message, 98-and-3/4% guaranteed.

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