It has been quite the challenges in the months behind me - every week a new surprise. Yet, during these Pandemic days, I am grateful for family and friends who've kept me smiling through every week with a new treat of kindness. In mid-summer, my AC needed to be replaced. Then, a week or so ago, my laptop needed repair, and this past week (I have radiators and a boiler), pipes split in the venting, now all need replacing. I know it all could be worse, but having it nearly altogether makes a pile!
However, last week in donations at the used bookstore where I volunteer (as all who work there do), this book came in, an old anthology full of fun for children, "best poems" as it says on the cover. Its authors are many you and I know: Frost, Fyleman, Dickinson, Field, Farjeon, Fisher, Carroll, more and more.
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| 1930 - Whitman Publishing Company |
My birthday is next week. My mother used to say that when looking in the mirror, she was surprised at the old woman who looked back at her. Now, it's my turn. The poem says it beautifully.
Growing - Up
Marchette Gaylord Chute
When I grow up I'll carry a stick
And be very dignified,
I'll have a watch that will really tick,
My house will be tall and built of brick,
And no one will guess that it's just a trick,
And I'm really myself inside.
There are many books of poetry on our shelves. They do not move often but sometimes one customer will be delighted to find a favorite and that there are lots to choose from. FYI - mostly for older teens and adults. There are fewer for children.
For my birthday, if you wish, send me an email at lindabaie at mac dot com with your name and address that you would love a surprise poetry book in the mail and I will send you one! It may take a week or so to get it all completed, but it will be my pleasure to send a gift to you!
among assorted pleasures
chocolate tastes and times of leisure
words in poems linger longer
Linda Baie ©
The poem you shared pairs perfectly in my mind with Linda M's poem in today's roundup - and expresses exactly how I feel when I look in the mirror!
ReplyDeleteWIshing you a a year of more joys than troubles, with lots of time to enjoy reading and writing poetry. Happy Birthday!
Thank you, Elisabeth, for those special wishes. Now I need to get over to Linda M.'s post!
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DeleteDear Linda, what a find! I love your bookstore discoveries. And how like you to celebrate your birthday in this way... sending you an email. Thank you, dear friend! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Irene. It is often a wonderful surprise that comes our way when we go through the donations! I will love the email from you!
DeleteWhat a great find, from 1930! I can identify with what your mom said about looking in the mirror, and yes, like the poem said, "I'm really myself inside."
ReplyDeleteWonderful way to celebrate your birthday. Hope you have far fewer "fixit" challenges in the coming year!
Dear Jama, I'm happy to read that you 'see' that girl in the mirror! Thanks for the wishes, too.
DeleteWhat a great poem! What a treasure to find a book like this. Yes, I feel that way and know my mom used to feel that way too, how the outside changes but the inside is very much the same.
ReplyDeleteLove hearing this from you, too, Janice. The book donations so often bring us delight. Thank you!
DeleteI'm seeing mostly my MOTHER in the mirror and elsewhere these days, and it's kind of funny to me. In our tween days, after all the complaining we do and here we go, doing the same things... Happy birthday! I wish you poetry joys unstinting and all the quiet or loud time to read and recreate that you might wish.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tanita, for the nice wishes. I've had workmen here all day, still here, working on the heating. Reading some of the poetry in the posts (in between talking with them) has helped me get through this day!
DeleteOh, that magic mirror that somehow show it all. I try not to look too often. I also love hearing about the things you find in your bookstore. I'd love to get a poetry book from you. It reminds me that I had the idea around my birthday back in August to do a birthday poetry exchange like the exchanges Tabatha organizes except you'd get your poetry gift around your birthday.
ReplyDeleteYes, will love sending you a book. Having a birthday swap is a fun idea, too! Thanks, Margaret.
DeleteSuch a joy-filled post Linda! Love the poetry book you found and are sharing, and how altruistic of you to send gifts on your birthday–though I have to agree the sending brings much joy too! Good luck with the boiler repair, that's a big joy, we had one replaced too.
ReplyDeleteMany Happy Birthday Wishes for you!
Happy Birthday! I too, find old poetry books that need weeding and I end up bringing some of them home. I just cannot stand the thought of some of these gems "going to the farm." My goodness. Your "pile" of challenges sounds tough. I'm sorry you are sifting through it all. Replacing pipes is such a big and invasive job. I hope you find a good company that makes light work of it. The illustration of the book above is charming. I love those colors.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that you will give away joy for your birthday! How YOU!! Besides seeing that old woman in the mirror, you have well and truly learned that you will gain more by giving than getting!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Michelle, Linda & Mary Lee. The heat is back! It took all day yesterday, but our dear heating person finished it! They rearranged the schedule for us because snow, or at least cold, will arrive this coming week! I love your comments, am happy to gift some poetry back! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, fellow October baby! Here's to a year with much more poetry and much less domestic repairs. *cheers!*
ReplyDelete(we are all wee ones despite what the mirror suggests)
Linda, what a find, and how gracious of you to want to share your trove of assorted chocolate tastes with all of us! I love that Marchette Chute poem as my number keeps ticking up and I feel mostly the same...Kindly DO NOT send me a book to go with the 200 I am working through for NCTE reading! 😉
ReplyDeleteWhat a TREASURE - that book you stumbled upon, but you even more so. How kind and “so Linda” that you would want to give gifts to others on your own birthday. XO (PS - Yes - with each passing year, I find I’m still ‘me’ inside, too!)
ReplyDeleteI am sorely tempted to take you up on your offer of a poetry book, because I love them so, but unfortunately I'm in getting rid of books mode, instead of acquiring mode. Thank you for all your kindness! And for your words today, which do indeed linger longer!
ReplyDeleteThe poem is lovely, and what a find the book is!
ReplyDeleteThanks again to all, will see something new the next time I look in a mirror. And, I love gifting, so if you want a book, please let me know! Heidi, what a challenge you are taking on!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with Elisabeth above! Thought the same thing. We have my husband's gr. gr. grandfather's walking stick!!! I wonder about ones that perhaps a woman might have carried. I think they were more for men, but do not know. I love your offer of a lovely poetry book, Linda, but knowing me, I may have them all and was just gifted a wonderful book from our beloved 97yo cousin through marriage who brought it east from California this week for me! It is the Best Loved Poems of Americans from the NY Times in 1936 or so. Doubleday Pub. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/06/archives/favorite-poems-of-the-american-people-best-loved-poems-of-the.html
ReplyDeleteThe words in the Introduction are worth sharing and reading!
I want a Miss Franny Block (Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo) house full of all my poetry books with places to read aloud, write, share, recite and enjoy poems of all kinds!!! So these would flow eventually, maybe. I think we need poetry advocacy and I have to get my idea up and running. Here's to another joyful day filled with more poems, Linda.
I love hearing about your own new "old" book, Janet, & your idea of a poetry place sounds lovely! Thanks!
DeleteWith birthday greetings, I send you much happiness, Linda. It is amazing that your bookstore gets so many poetry books. The one I went to in the next town has few. I have collected some old ones that mean so much upon looking back. Thanks for the delightful poem from the treasured book you found. Your words are true: words in poems linger longer. I am glad that your post brightened this dark day. All of a sudden the sun shines after the rain but that is the sweet pleasure nature brings. (Your generosity in sending a book out during your birthday month is amazing.)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol, yes, our bookstore receives so many donations that we must limit them every week, then start again the next week. I have one old poetry anthology of my mother's but that's about it. A grandfather read to me but I'm not sure where those books went and the other grandparents took me to their library when I visited in the summer. Everyone was a reader! I'm happy to send some, hopefully new poetry to those who would love a surprise! Wishing you a lovely Sunday and week ahead!
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, and what a sweet gift to send a poetry book to your friends. I love that phrases about the words of a poem, that they "linger longer" -- so fun! I will just enjoy your virtual offer of a birthday gift this time, as I am in Bahrain and wouldn't want to send that address! Blessings!
Thanks, Denise. I'm glad you agree about that "linger longer". We are lucky to have poetry in our lives! Have a lovely week ahead!
DeleteSecond try (my first comment whirred a long time but didn't post). These are both beautiful poems, and I've never heard of the first poet, though I love the second <3 Sorry for your household woes, and I can't believe you're offering to send out books for your birthday. Wait--yes, I can. You are such a generous, lovely person. I hope your birthday is amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is strange when that whirring happens, totally unpredictable. I'm glad to introduce you to Marchette Chute, a children's poet of long ago! Thanks for the wishes, Laura. Birthdays are always fun!
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