ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Theodore Roethke

Theodore Roethke was a person who wrote poems. These poems were like little stories but instead of being written like a regular story, they were written with special words and sentences that made them sound really pretty and interesting.

Theodore liked writing about things he saw or experienced in his life, like plants, animals, and even his own feelings. He would use his special words and sentences to help other people imagine and feel what he was imagining and feeling.

Even though Theodore was really good at writing poems, sometimes things were hard for him in his life. He struggled with some problems, like feeling sad or sick, but he still kept writing poems because he loved doing it.

Now, many people like to read Theodore's poems because they help them feel connected to the world and to themselves. Some people even say that his poems are like little gifts that they can open up and enjoy over and over again.