No race can prosper, till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” Booker Tallaferro Washington, b. 1856. And vice-versa.
Arthur Hailey, b.1920. I read Hotel long before I saw the movie, and I remember it being very entertaining. I don’t remember much about the movie.
Wednesdays are poetry days at The Immaculate Castle, and the family there recently found themselves memorizing Tennyson. Then, mom asked the question: What did Alfred Tennyson’s mother read to him as a child?
I wonder whether Shakespeare’s mother read to him?
The Reading Mother
I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their 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 Gelert 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
What are you reading to the children in your life?
Pride and Prejudice. Lately, though, they have been reading to me as I stitch.
Your poem today brought to the front of my mind a question that had been simmering unanswered in the back of my mind for quite some time. I have always read to my children and up until last year those children have been girls. Now I have a son to read to and while many books we have would be good for any child some are simply too dolls and tea parties for a boy to enjoy. Most of the children’s books we own were mine and my sister’s as children. Others have been chosen by my daughters or given to them. Having read and loved all these girl books makes me wonder what will I read to him. Do you have any suggestions of books for little boys that should not be missed?
i WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER READING MOTHERS ABOUT HOW THEY SOLVE THE DILEMMA OF HAVING MANY AGES (AND MANY BUSY SCHEDULES) TO DEAL WITH. WE HAVE ALWAYS SPENT OUR EVENINGS AT HOME READING TOGETHER – FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO. NOW WE HAVE TEENAGERS WHO HAVE ACTIVITIES UNTIL 8 OR 9 IN THE EVENING, A FIVE YEAR OLD WHO IS JUST BEGINNING TO LISTEN TO TO CHAPTER BOOKS, A 13 YEAR OLD BOY, AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL AND A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HATES “GIRL BOOKS.” i HAVE STARTED AND NOT FINISHED SO MANY BOOKS THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE SO MANY NIGHTS WENT BY WHERE 2 OR 3 OF THE LISTENERS COULD NOT BE HOME AND DID NOT WANT TO MISS THE BOOK. tHEN WE COMPLETELY LOST THE THREAD OF THE STORY AND ENDED UP GOING ON TO A NEW BOOK. I HAVE BEGUN OTHER BOOKS THAT APPEALED TO ONLY TWO OF MY SEVEN CHILDREN,M AND LOST THE OTHERS TO XANGA SITES AND EMAILING FRIENDS. WHAT’S A MOTHER TO DO? FOCUS ON THE YOUNGER LISTENERS? READ TWO BOOKS AT A TIME/ HAVE TWO READING SESSIONS EVERY EVENING, EARLY AND LATE (BUT THEN WHEN DO I GET ANYTHING ELSE DONE??)
ANY SUGGESTIONS???