Book Houses
A book is like a door.
Which opens into someone's house
Where I've not been before.
A pirate or a fairy queen
May lift the latch for me;
I always wonder, when I knock,
What welcome there will be.
And when I find a house that's dull
I do not often stay;
But when I find one full of friends,
I'm apt to spend the day.
I never know what sort of folks
Will be within, you see;
And that's why reading always is
So interesting to me.
Annie Fellows Johnston (1863-1931)
How true this is!
ReplyDeleteAnd when I find a house that's dull
I do not often stay;
But when I find one full of friends,
I'm apt to spend the day.
Sometimes those little poems say it just right!
ReplyDeleteThat Nan is a lovely poem and so true! Thank you for sharing ..I'll show the girls when they get home from school
ReplyDeleteVal, I do love these sorts of 'children's' poems.
ReplyDeleteAnnie and I are like minds. Isn't it amazing how certain things don't change over time.
ReplyDeleteSadie is just beautiful. She looks most like a Rot to me. At least in this pose.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, Lisa. Sometimes she looks all Labby and other times all Rotty. The latter when she is particularly earnest about something. :<)
ReplyDeleteLovely, Nan.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd posted my "piles" of books at one time, but, not to be found. I'll have to do that one day soon.
Isn't it a dear little poem, Penny. And I look forward to the book pics!
ReplyDeleteShe is absolutely right. This is the one thing I most miss when I read on my Kindle -- just gazing at the front cover and then the frontespiece and the flaps on the jacket and thinking about what lies within. (But the Kindle is much easier on my eyes.)
ReplyDeleteSallie, I feel the same way. I enjoy the kindle for really one thing - the convenience of reading in bed without a heavy book. But I never bring it downstairs. I love print books more.
ReplyDeleteCharming, simply charming!
ReplyDeleteI want to memorize it to recite to my grandchildren before reading a book to them.
Debbie, I'm very fond of so-called children's poems. I love the rhythm and rhyme and the sentiment of this one - especially the third verse. I'd say all readers feel much this way. I love to think of you reciting it to little ones.
ReplyDeleteI memorized this poem when I was in the 4th grade, 1958, and can still recite it today, much to the amazement of some of my senior friends! I've always liked it because it perfectly describes the wonder of picking of a new book to read.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you read it all these years later and took the time to comment. Thanks. I must have been in 4th grade then too, because I turned ten in 1958. :<)
DeleteI am 77 years old & still remember this poem from grade school- probably accounts for my love of reading
DeleteMy mother taught me this poem when I was little to recite to visiting relatives. I'm 70 years old now and could only remember the first line. I knew I'd find that poem if I looked online. Thank you for posting!
ReplyDelete