Martin, J. & Archambault, J. (1966). Knots on a counting rope. New York: Henry Holt.

POETRY

“A poem that tells a story is narrative poetry” (Norton, 2011, p. 32). Knots on a Counting Rope is a narrative poem and a poem for two voices: an old man and a young boy tell the story of the boy’s birth, the story of the boy’s horse race, and how the boy got his name: Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses. It is an American Indian-themed story, and sensitively weaves in Native traditions of oral storytelling, grandparent-grandchild relationships, and connections with the natural world.

“…and you raised your arms

to the great blue horses,

and I said,

‘See how the horses speak to him

They are his brothers from…’

“…from beyond the dark mountains.

This boy child will not die.’

That is what you said,

Isn’t it Grandfather?”

Part way through the book we learn the astonishing detail that the boy is blind. Yet the boy teaches his horse to ride with him to the sheep pasture on the plains, and to find the way home again. He even races with his horse.

“I said,

‘Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses,

you have raced the darkness and won!

You now can see with your heart,

Feel a part of all that surrounds you.

Your courage lights the way.

Yes, I remember, Grandfather.

They said,

“This boy walks in beauty.

His dreams are more beautiful

Than rainbows and sunsets.”

ELEMENTS OF POETRY

The book is full of metaphors. That is the way grandfather describes colors to his grandson:

“…Grandfather,

but I cannot see the blue.

What is blue?

“You know morning, Boy.

Yes, I can feel morning.

Morning throws off

The blanket of night.”

The deep relationship between the boy and his grandfather is poignantly revealed at the end of the book:

“I always feel strong

When you are with me, grandfather.

“I will not always be with you, boy.

“No, grandfather,

Don’t ever leave me.

What will I do without you?

“You will never be alone, Boy.

My love, like the strength of blue horses,

Will always surround you!”

ILLUSTRATIONS

Ted Rand’s lovely watercolor illustrations mostly depict dark scenes—evening campfires, kerosene-lit interiors—perhaps as a metaphor for Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses’ blindness.

INTEREST LEVEL

Lexile: 480

Guided Reading Level: M

LESSON PLAN

Knots on a Counting Rope could be a read-aloud that could be read quite a number of times. After the first few group readings and discussions it could be read as a poem for two voices—the boy’s and the grandfather’s—if it was projected onto the big screen with the help of a document viewer or if it was scanned and turned into a pdf. Older readers could read the book themselves, too. It would be a good book to have several copies of for Guided Reading.

This writing lesson plan could be used in grades three, four, and five. Children could be invited to tell about their lives and make their own “knots on a counting rope:” to each rope knot a three-by-five card is tied telling something that happened in a child’s year. A simple sentence starter such as, “I was born on __________________. During my first year I ____________________.” “When I was two __________________________.” Children write a card for each of their years on earth. Older children would be encouraged to write a paragraph.

Norton, D. (2011). Through the eyes of a child. An introduction to children’s literature, 8^th ed. Boston: Pearson.