Several years ago when I wrote this poem for the opening of a small indie bookstore, I thought about the value of books and the waning sales at that time. Young people were caught up in video games instead of reading, while others spent most of their time working for the so-called "good life." Many of the wonderful classics, novels, and nonfiction books languished on shelves, gathering dust instead of inspiring dreams and changing lives. Hence "Books" was born.
Sadly, the struggling indie store went out of business a few years ago after a big chain moved into town and claimed the limited number of readers with its large inventory, variety coffees, and inviting areas to sit and read. Now, with the advent of ebooks, Kindle, etc., we are seeing a growing interest in books. Therefore, we writers and editors need to rethink the impact that books can have on lives and, by extension, on the need for quality reading for young and old alike. After all, that's our job, isn't it?
Books
Where can you find the very best zoo?
Where can you learn exactly how to?
Where can you plan a flight to the moon?
Where can you seek the ways of a loon?
Where can you take a trip to the past?
Where can you join a big Broadway cast?
Where can you play in a Wild West show?
Where can you go that no one did go?
Where can you find unbeatable strength?
Where can you travel both breadth and length?
Where can you meet the great and the small?
Where can you grow to be ten feet tall?
Where can you find ways to get wealthy?
Where can you learn how to grow healthy?
How can you walk where ancestors trod
Or sail with Wynken, Blynken, and Nod?
You might be very surprised to know
That no matter where you want to go,
You have only to open a book—
Take a moment now for a quick look!
You can be mighty, you can be meek,
You can be plain, or you can be chic;
But it matters not which way you choose,
For you decide if you win or lose.
When you read a book, you grow inside,
Expand horizons, relish the ride,
Hitch your wagon to a rising star—
Who you want to be is who you are.
Read to your parents, read to your child,
Read to yourself, by books be beguiled;
Travel the world, the universe grand,
Your passport is the book in your hand.
by Linda Lane
~~~~~~~~
I thought the picture might be fun . . . ah, to be 18 again! Linda Lane has written poetry since early in her elementary school days. In more recent years she graduated to novels, and then to editing. She loves to work with other writers to help them reach their goals and live their dreams.
Sadly, the struggling indie store went out of business a few years ago after a big chain moved into town and claimed the limited number of readers with its large inventory, variety coffees, and inviting areas to sit and read. Now, with the advent of ebooks, Kindle, etc., we are seeing a growing interest in books. Therefore, we writers and editors need to rethink the impact that books can have on lives and, by extension, on the need for quality reading for young and old alike. After all, that's our job, isn't it?
Books
Where can you find the very best zoo?
Where can you learn exactly how to?
Where can you plan a flight to the moon?
Where can you seek the ways of a loon?
Where can you take a trip to the past?
Where can you join a big Broadway cast?
Where can you play in a Wild West show?
Where can you go that no one did go?
Where can you find unbeatable strength?
Where can you travel both breadth and length?
Where can you meet the great and the small?
Where can you grow to be ten feet tall?
Where can you find ways to get wealthy?
Where can you learn how to grow healthy?
How can you walk where ancestors trod
Or sail with Wynken, Blynken, and Nod?
You might be very surprised to know
That no matter where you want to go,
You have only to open a book—
Take a moment now for a quick look!
You can be mighty, you can be meek,
You can be plain, or you can be chic;
But it matters not which way you choose,
For you decide if you win or lose.
When you read a book, you grow inside,
Expand horizons, relish the ride,
Hitch your wagon to a rising star—
Who you want to be is who you are.
Read to your parents, read to your child,
Read to yourself, by books be beguiled;
Travel the world, the universe grand,
Your passport is the book in your hand.
by Linda Lane
~~~~~~~~
I thought the picture might be fun . . . ah, to be 18 again! Linda Lane has written poetry since early in her elementary school days. In more recent years she graduated to novels, and then to editing. She loves to work with other writers to help them reach their goals and live their dreams.