Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Today's poem by Annie Fellows Johnston


Book Houses


I always think the cover of
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)

17 comments:

  1. How true this is!

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sometimes those little poems say it just right!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That Nan is a lovely poem and so true! Thank you for sharing ..I'll show the girls when they get home from school

    ReplyDelete
  4. Val, I do love these sorts of 'children's' poems.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Annie and I are like minds. Isn't it amazing how certain things don't change over time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sadie is just beautiful. She looks most like a Rot to me. At least in this pose.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's funny, Lisa. Sometimes she looks all Labby and other times all Rotty. The latter when she is particularly earnest about something. :<)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely, Nan.

    I 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.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Isn't it a dear little poem, Penny. And I look forward to the book pics!

    ReplyDelete
  10. She 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.)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sallie, 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.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Charming, simply charming!

    I want to memorize it to recite to my grandchildren before reading a book to them.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So 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. :<)

      Delete
    2. I am 77 years old & still remember this poem from grade school- probably accounts for my love of reading

      Delete
  15. My 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

I'll answer your comments as soon as I possibly can. Please do come back if you've asked a question.
Also, you may comment on any post, no matter how old, and I will see it.