POEMS HAVE ROOTS
by Lilian Moore & illustrated by Tad Hills
Moore (Sunflakes, 1992, etc.) produces a new, small volume of poems that fits nicely in the hand. Each poem—none longer that three pages and most only two—is, like the title, a reflection on nature. Some mourn, and some rejoice, but all share the response to what Moore sees before her: a frozen waterfall, a full moon, a thunderstorm. Environmental messages are occasionally heavy-handed (``Unpoison the sea!'' and ``Where are the frogs?''), and the use of exclamation points makes for unnecessary clunks most of the time. ``The Automated Bird Watcher'' is hilarious (``Press One/To see the clutch of/eggs she laid''); ``Pilgrim Flower'' reminds readers, exquisitely, that the pilgrims brought the wildflower Queen Anne's Lace to these shores. (two-color illustrations, not seen) (Poetry. 6-11)