The Reading Mother

I have always loved this poem since I first read it many years ago. I liked it so much because my mother read to me. And taught me to read before I started school. And encouraged me to read as much as possible..except she didn't much care for me getting in trouble at school for reading instead of doing my work.

I had a Mother to read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlassas clenched in the yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

                                        Strickland Gillilan

Found in

Who Has Known Heights

Who has known heights and depths shall not again
Know peace-not as the calm heart knows
Low, ivied walls; a garden close;
An though he tread the humble ways of men
He shall not speak the common tongue again.

Who has known heights shall bear forevermore
An incommunicable thing
That hurts his heart, as if a wing
Beat at the portal, challenging;
And yet-lured by the gleam his vision wore-
Who once has trodden stars seeks peace no more.

Mary Brent Whiteside

Found in

Our Lips And Ears

If your your lips would keep from slips,
five things observe with care:
Of whom your speak, to whom your speak,
And how and when and where.

If your your ears would save from jeers,
These things keep meekly his:
Myself and I, and mine and my,
And how I do and did.

Unknown

A version of this was written to Laura Ingalls by her mother in the book Little Town On the Prairie. This version is found in

Who Hath a Book

Who hath a book
Has friends at hand,
And gold and gear
At his command;

And rich estates,
If he but look,
Are held by him
Who hath a book.

Who hath a book
Has but to read
And he may be
A king indeed;

His Kingdom is
His inglenook;
All this is his
Who hate a book.

Wilbur D. Nesbit

This is so true! I sometimes get lost in really good books. I forget where I am. If I have been reading something where the people speak with accents or very formally...I often find myself speaking that way for several hours if not days. You can travel all over the world without ever leaving you house if you have Books. And actually read them!

Found in